Ideal Setting

I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my sweet little family as I listened to President Henry B. Eyring's talk, “Our Perfect Example.”

He said:

“Just as Jesus used a child in His mortal ministry as an example for the people of the pure love they must and could have to be like Him, He has offered us the family as an example of an ideal setting in which we can learn how to love as He loves.”

Those words really struck me.

As I've studied the scriptures and tried to better understand and develop Christlike attributes (especially charity and love) I've realized that some of my greatest examples are right here in my own home.

My children.

These LITTLE people teach me all the time.

They are so quick to forgive.

They have a natural ability to love others without first looking for differences.

They don't seem to hold on to offenses the way we adults sometimes do.

They have a sincere desire to help and serve.

And they love so freely.

Sometimes I think I'm supposed to be the one teaching them how to become more like the Savior...

And then I stop long enough to realize how much they're teaching me.

What a blessing to be surrounded by five little examples every day.

President Eyring's words helped me see our family a little differently...not simply as people living and growing together, but as an ideal setting the Lord has given us to practice becoming more like Him.

Here, we learn to forgive.

We learn to serve.

We learn patience.

We learn to put someone else's needs ahead of our own.

And perhaps most importantly...

We learn how to love.

I was also sent a video that made me smile and seemed to fit perfectly with this thought. It's another sweet reminder of how naturally children forgive and how quickly they can let go of anger and simply move on.

Steve Chandler said:

“If you have seen this already, watch it again. You will laugh even harder than you did the first time.”

So true.

Today I'm simply grateful for my little family...

And for this ideal setting where, together, we're learning how to love a little more like the Savior.