Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Dear Fellow Visiting Teachers,

_MG_2627
_MG_2632
_MG_2630
lap full o potential
I was sitting at the computer, perusing the blog circuit and a putrid smell enveloped the entire room, snapping me back into my life: right here, right now. I took two stinkers to the changing table and congratulated them each for their good, hard work. They wiggled and squirmed and made a simple thing difficult.

Listen to this ridiculously awesome quote by the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley:

"Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these His little ones. . . . Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried."
VT october

ad•mo•ni•tion (ād'mə-nĭsh'ən)
n.
1. Mild, kind, yet earnest reproof.
2. Cautionary advice or warning
.


I can’t even think of words after that quote. When I first heard that quote several years back, it was like a whack upside the head. I looked at my children and SAW them. Why didn’t I SEE them before? Who did I think they were? They are not really even mine; I’m just in charge of them for a while, and most likely they are superior to me in every quality, every aspect, and every way. It got my mind reeling with the truth that the potential of these souls is more than I can comprehend and I better do my best to not hold them back. Put those feet on the ground running and watch them go!

As I placed the fresh smelling people onto the ground and watched them crawl away, I thought about their knowing smiles, their playful giggles and the wisdom in their eyes. They’re not even a year old!

I thought about the love letter my 5 year old gave to me this morning when my eyes wouldn’t yet open to the new day. Filled with “X”s and “O”s and hearts to let me know that through our troubles together, there is an underlying love that overshadows everything.

I hope I don’t hold these unbelievable little people back!
Have a great visit with your sisters this month!
XO,
Britt

{Feel free to download the quote above for your personal Visiting Teaching pleasure.}

For this month's Visiting Teaching message, click here:
www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-4973-1,00.html

For more information on what Visiting Teaching is, click here.
www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4691-1,00.html

7 comments:

Mikael said...

Thank you for posting this! I needed to hear this.

Anonymous said...

There is now a big yellow post-it on the board above my desk in my office that says this,

"You have not failed as long as you have tried." -Pres Hinckley

YES!

Candice

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful Brittany! Thank you. Your smile is still in my mind a month later!

cupcake studio said...

Just ran across your blog this evening...it's pure joy!

Kitty said...

Miss Pretty,

YOU inspire me. Thank you for the comment you left on my blog. It meant so much to me. I hope we get to meet in person someday soon. That would be the most fun.

love and hugs,

Kat

Susan Tuttle said...

you are right -- they are not ours, per se. We have been entrusted to the care of their spirits -- helping to keep in place what is already so perfect.

Anonymous said...

So inspiring!