Willingly follow Christ

Today's quotes seem to center on families, parenting. It reminded me of an entry from my cousin Loraine's blog as she recounted her busy January, a new grandchild, her mother's cancer surgery, her in-laws' health problems & taking them to a grandson's mission farewell.

But the season of my life is to take care of family members. All this other will get done in its own due time.

President's Faust quote fits so perfectly:

"No matter what circumstances you sisters experience, your influence can be marvelously far-reaching. I believe some of you have a tendency to underestimate your profound capacity for blessing the lives of others. More often than not, it is not on the stage with some public pronouncement but in your example of righteousness and the countless gentle acts of love and kindness done so willingly, so often on a one-to-one basis."

--James E. Faust, "You Are All Heaven Sent," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 110

"… countless gentle acts of love and kindness …" shows she is willingly following Christ as President Kimball exhorts us.

"Follow me," the Savior said. And we realize that to follow him is not impossible. The miles which he traveled, each of us can travel, for he took them one step at a time, one journey at a time. You could walk from Jerusalem to Nazareth. You could walk to the Sea of Galilee from Nazareth. You could follow Joseph and Mary and Jesus to Egypt. You could walk to the Mount of Transfiguration and back and forth from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Bethany, the River Jordan. All these, you could do. But this is not the kind of following that he expected. He meant for us to follow his teachings and his example. Anyone with normal health can walk those miles and climb those hills and ford those streams. But it is quite another thing to be "even as I am," (3 Ne. 27:27) as he said to the Nephites."

--Spencer W. Kimball, "A Gift of Gratitude", Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

One of last night's quotes is a repeat from Bishop H. Burke Peterson quoting President McKay & speaking of mothers here.

"As parenting declines, the need for policing increases. There will always be a shortage of police if there is a shortage of effective parents! Likewise, there will not be enough prisons if there are not enough good homes."

--Neal A. Maxwell, "Take Especial Care of Your Family," Ensign, May 1994, 88

The heartbreak of parents as their children end up in jail, wondering, "Where did I go wrong?" We have been sheltered in Cache Valley. It has been so idyllic with the rural values of the LDS community, yet the world infiltrates us even here. As Dumbledore said:

"It takes much bravery to stand up to our enemies but we need as much bravery to stand up to our friends."

— J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)