Mother's Day

Mother's Day was wonderful this year and was extra special because I have a baby of my own.  

Now that I am a mother I really do appreciate my mom, and all mothers, so much more.  As mothers we have such an important responsibility to love, nurture, and teach our children.  I'm grateful for my mom and the dedication she put into raising her family.  I am also grateful for my mother in law and the wonderful job she did in raising Michael.  He is perfect for me and I know much of that is because of her firm testimony and unwavering diligence in teaching him truth.  

As I listened to the speakers in church on Sunday tell of their sweet mothers I was once again reminded of the new burden I bear of mother.  I could literally feel the weight of this new role bearing down upon me as I listened to stories of wonderful women and how they had magnified the calling of mother.  As I think of my future as a mother I am filled with anxiety, faith, and joy.  I am so new at this "mother" thing that I can't claim to know anything!  However, I have faith that my Heavenly Father--who is the perfect parent--will help me.  He knows me and my children.  He will help me when I fail and strengthen me in my role as a mother.  I am grateful that He has blessed me with wonderful examples of great mothers and with tools to help me become a better mother.  

One "tool" that I recently discovered is the book Teaching Your Children Joy 

By Linda and Richard Eyre.  

I started reading this book just before Mother's day and it has filled me with joy.  In the introduction the Eyre's explain that the most important thing you can give your children is love, but after that the most important thing we have give them or teach them is to have joy.  And they aren't just talking about a happy sort of joy, but joy in work, spiritual joys and much much more.  I'm borrowing this book from my mother in law, but I wish I had my own copy because I have been restraining myself from writing all over it and taking notes in the margins! 

Another reason I LOVE this book is because it's not one of those parenting books where you read a few chapters and you feel as though you keep reading the same 3 paragraphs that state the author's opinion over and over and over again.  The Eyre's are very to-the-point in this book.  They give real examples of each joy, ways you can teach them, stories that demonstrate them, and examples of how children have experienced the joys.  I can't wait to keep reading!  Who knows, maybe I'll become more joyful in the process too!