Tonight Mike and I were able to go on our first date alone since Logan was born. YIPPEE! We decided to go see National Treasure 2. We both really enjoyed it. It was a clean, fun, and an absolutely ridiculous movie-just what one needs to take a break from their kids. However, after only 2 hours, I was desperately wanting to get my babies back. I may not be a genius, but I think that means that the week long cruise might be a tad hard on me.
Yesterday I was asked to give the lesson in Relief Society next week. It is on God the Father. I have been wondering how I want to approach the subject and what part of the lesson I want to focus on. I think after tonight I have decided. In the lesson there are some quotes that I love: "...the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; He views them as his offspring...His love is unfathomable, his wisdom infinite, and His power unlimited..." "When we comprehend the character of God, we comprehend ourselves and know how to approach Him."
After our date, I was thinking about how hard it was for me to leave my little ones for only a few hours, and how I am sure I am going to miss them like crazy on the cruise. I then compared it to our Heavenly Father. He sent all of His children to this earth knowing that some would not return to Him. Still He let them go. Then He sent his Son to die for them. I would say that that kind of love is definitely unfathomable. I didn't understand that parental love until having children, and more importantly, leaving my children(if only for a short time). I can't compare my 2 hours to the eternities, but I think I can compare my love of my boys to His love of us. His" fatherly care and paternal regard"..I love that. I love thinking of Him as my Father rather than some distant being. Like it says, because I can comprehend his character (and I'll add feelings), I know how to approach Him better. I don't know if that all correlates and makes sense, but I know it does in my mind, I just need to piece it all together. :) If any of you have thoughts or ideas to add, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
3 comments:
Congrats on your first baby free date! I love the concept you are putting together for the lesson. I think the parallels are amazing and profound and I wish I could be there when you teach it. Are you one who types up your lesson or at least your main thoughts? If so I would love a finished copy. Since I am in YW I am not able to be there for the RS lessons and I am finding myself really missing it right now. I am going to go read the lesson. If I have any thoughts I will pass them on.
I was reading that lesson just a couple of days ago and had similar thoughts - only on a more selfish level. I was feeling that it was an answer to my 'lonely' prayers at night when the rest of the world is awake and I'm pacing the house feeling totally alone in my exhausted pregnancy pains. When I read that lesson I felt so much comfort and love from my Father in Heaven.
Your lesson will be wonderful because your parallels will relate to all women. I too would love a copy of the lesson if you type it up.
I am also in Young Women so don't get to be there for the lesson. However, last Sunday the Young Women had a similar lesson and I was amazed how many of them "know that Heavenly Father exists" but never looked at him as a father figure. I think what has helped me is to think of him as "daddy" rather than father. He is a real person to me rather than just the being in the heavens that created all of us.
I've also recently thought about what this life is all about. We are literally in training to become gods ourselves. I don't have children yet but I can imagine what you went through those 2 hours is something like what he experienced letting us go. He knows he will get us back again and is hoping we make the right choices. I remember on my mission thinking of him and Jesus as my best friends. I would pray so often that I felt like they were right next to me guiding me to say the right things and to not be afraid in a particularly scary situation. It's that relationship I miss when I'm not praying as much as I should. We can literally have a relationship with our Father in Heaven like we have with family here on earth. I've always believed this but it wasn't until my mission and recently with trying to get that relationship back that I know that he is there watching over us.
I just pulled out the lesson and appreciate the reminder. I don't read the Relief Society lesson because I'm always teaching a Young Women lesson - still you can never get too much religion. :) Good luck on your lesson. It sounds like you are on the right track and I wish I could be there for the lesson.
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