Example

Of course we all know as a parent you are your child's greatest example.  They will learn what makes them who they are from you.  The Last Sunday I heard something (can't remember exactly what) from Sister Ipson in her young women's lesson. I love how the spirit works. I was sitting in a lesson for the young woman obviously not about parenting but the spirit spoke to me what I need to hear in my life.  Here is what I wrote down

The best example my children will have of Heavenly Parents will be Brent and I as their parents.

I don't think I heard much of the lesson for the next 5 minutes or so as I thought about this.  It's kind of heavy, deep.  All this past week it's been on my mind.  This little sentence, just 18 words has really caused me to ponder.  It makes me want to be so much a better person.  It also makes me think about what a blessing it is to be a parent.  Through this experience of parenting I am learning more about my Heavenly Father then I have in my previous 27 years!  Being a parent certainly helps me to have a greater understanding for my Heavenly Parents.  For instance how I will let Croix cry if he wakes up from a nap after only 30 minutes.  I, as his parent know he just needs more sleep.  He will be miserable the rest of the day if he doesn't get it.  So Croix cries.  How often does our Heavenly Father let us cry, to get to something in our lives that we really need.  As the parent, he knows we just need to have this experience to get to something better.  It also makes me think of how I let Croix make mistakes, so he will learn.  Often at this point in his life it's in regards to climbing, so he often falls.  I know that if he falls he will learn not to climb what ever it is.  It might hurt him a little in the moment but in the grand scheme of things it will be a helpful lesson learned.  I always offer comfort when he comes to me after he's fallen.  Is that not exactly how our Heavenly Father works?  We have agency, we make mistakes, he's there for us to turn to for comfort and guidance.  I knew these principles before becoming a parent, but I have always experienced them as the child.  How different it is as the parent.  I also love how I feel so much joy on his behalf when he learns and grows.  I think my Heavenly Father certainly rejoices with us in our lives as well.

I think I'm going to make this a focus of my scripture study.  To seek out examples of Heavenly Father's nature as a loving, all knowing parent.  If I am the best example Croix will have of that then I better start learning more about it.  I think studying the Saviors life will also be helpful.  After all Christ did say;

John 5:19
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

When I was going through infertility I wondered why we as mortals not only have the opportunity to be parents, but are commanded to "multiply and replenish the earth".  As a woman who wanted nothing more, and yet was unable to do so this commandment was one I struggled to understand.  The best I could understand it at that point was because our Heavenly Father wants us to have joy, and having children is a great joy.  I now understand it even more.  We are also commanded to become like him.  Being a parent, creating life, nurturing and teaching, is the closest way we can be like our Heavenly Father here on earth.  With this realization the word gratitude does not quite touch what I feel about the blessing of being a parent.