Is it possible to love my children any more than I do? I could sit on my page here at LDS.net all day and listen to the music and watch the beautiful pics of my kids. 

I also have one of those new photo frames that displays pics from a memory card.  My step-dad bought it for me last Christmas.  I love watching the pics scroll through.

It is so amazing how we have technology that catches a beautiful moment, a precious face forever so that we can look at it over and over again.

It pains me to see those sweet baby pics of my children...they are growing too fast.  Tears fill my eyes and my chest tightens as I think of them one day leaving me.  Though I know it is necessary and it is a part of life, I just want to have these moments forever.

Is this why God has given us the gift of having children, so that we can catch a glimpse of how he feels for us? If my love for my children is this deep, imagine how deep God's love is for each of us.  

He does not need a moving pic frame to see us, because He has the power to be with all us, all the time.  We have to walk on our own, and we have to make decisions for ourselves, but He is always there loving us and waiting for us to seek his guidance.

Thinking about things lately, I have been thinking of how we choose to treat others.  How we can hold back forgiveness, how we can hold back our kindness, and how we can hold back so much of ourselves from our brothers and sisters on this earth.

How thankful each of us should be to our Savior that He does not make it that hard for us to receive forgiveness, to receive kindness, to receive love.  He paid an ultimate price so that we but have to acknowledge our sin, repent, and have faith in His atoning sacrifice so that our sins may be washed from us.

Why is it that we desperately need such immediate forgiveness, acceptance, and love from our Savior and Heavenly Father, but we hold back in giving it to others?

When I choose to be harsh in my judgements of myself and of others, I am essentially tying my Heavenly Father's hands on judgement day.  Because He has said that He will have to judge us as we judged others (and ourselves) on earth.  He will have no choice.  Why do I bind Him so? Why am I forcing Him to one day judge me harshly, simly because I could not let go of my own pride and pettiness on earth?

 But then I come back to thoughts of my children and thoughts of my husband.  I love them so deeply.  They are my little piece of heaven here on this earth.

Because of my love for them, my sacrifice for them, my patience for them, and my trials with them...I know that I am capable of such things.  It is just a matter of taking that leap of faith and stretching myself to extend that same love, sacrifice, patience, and endurance through trials with my brothers and sisters all around me.

It seems so hard.  It seems so monumental.  And yet the more we stretch, the more we extend ourselves, the more our capacity to do so is increased.  The more we trust in the principles and doctrines of this Gospel, the more we will be blessed to stretch a little further, ever striving for that ultimate goal.

I just have to remember that as I sit and watch the beautiful pics of my family, filled with love and joy, that Heavenly Father also looks upon His children with the same love and joy...even the ones that I perceive to be my "enemies". 

~TG

Tags: Children Love Peace Happiness

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