Grateful

I typically don't share my religious thoughts on our blog, but considering it is the Christmas season, today I am going to.

About 30 minutes ago there were 25 people sitting in my living room.  Now, the house is quiet and no one is around but me and my peacefully sleeping little Bridger.  We had our Young Women Christmas lesson today--the reason for the crowded living room--and as I sit to reflect upon what we talked about, it was again confirmed in my mind that I always get way more out of the lessons I teach than I'm sure the Young Women ever do.

As I was preparing the lesson, I decided to focus on the innkeepers and their decision to turn away Mary & Joseph.  We don't know a whole lot about the innkeepers or their motives, but as I read through some of the Jewish mitzvoth's I began to understand that their turing away of the humble pair was not simply a matter of being 'too full', it showed their willingness to abandon their standards of moral conduct and break the Jewish commandments.  Through this research, I ran across a quote by President Monson which mentioned that the innkeepers would never get a second chance to make room for the Savior.  Of course, he was making the reference in the literal sense, but it got me thinking how there are certainly key times in each of our lives where we make that critical decision as to whether or not we are going to allow the Savior in--or turn Him away.  I wonder how many times in my life I've turned away from the Savior and not done His will because I was too focused on my own.

I have also been reflecting on Mary.  It is mostly likely that she was a young girl (13 or 14 years old).  In Jesus the Christ it gives greater insight into Mary's response to the delivery of her Chosen Son.  The scriptures tell us that she "pondered it in her heart."  Undoubtedly she was scared and likely overwhelmed at the task before her.  To raise the Son of God would not be an easy task!  And yet--she accepted the call and went forward with faith.  I believe that she must have had a true sense of her divine nature--of her role as the daughter of a loving Heavenly Father who would help and guide her.  She was a woman of tremendous strength.  A woman to admire.  When I think about Mary I think of the pain she felt as she watched her perfect Son mocked, spit upon, laughed at and crucified.  It is hard for me to think of my Savior going through that.  But--a mother's love is deeper than anyone else's.  Except, perhaps, Christ's own Divine Father.  And I have to wonder if--as our Heavenly Father withdrew His Spirit from Christ to satisfy the demands of the atonement--he did not abide with Mary.  To strengthen that chosen mother during her Son's Eternal sacrifice.

As a mother, I hope to someday have the strength that Mary had.  She provides for me an example of what a mother should be--loving, faithful, obedient, strong, and willing to sacrifice.  I am so grateful for the many blessings I enjoy--not only temporal, but spiritual.  What an honor it is to be a wife and a mother.  There are some days when I sit and daydream about what it would be like to get out of the house and talk to adults! :)  But then I remember how incredibly blessed I am to have a husband who provides so well for our family so that I have the opportunity to stay home with Bridger.  I remember how lucky I am to have a happy, healthy little boy whose giggle fills our home and who has the light of Christ in his eyes.  And as I think of these things, suddenly, nothing else matters.  Yes, there are bills to be paid, home repairs that make the list, and diapers to change--those don't go away--but gratitude renews in me an inner strength that puts those things into perspective.

So, today I am grateful for:

1)  Repentance
2)  Mary's strength
3)  My boys.