What a miracle it is to watch children grow. We see them born seemingly helpless, with endless posibilities... and then day by day, they come to realize the power of their bodies and minds. Moving, Learning, Changing, Understanding. We marvel with each milestone. More than just watching our child, we are watching God's, and their growth seems to connects us to heaven. It is far too miraculous for me to even comprehend at times... conception, birth and growth of a human spirit and body. I find myself saying and thinking "can you even believe this is the same person that was kicking inside of me"?!
The past few weeks we've enjoyed seeing the freedom that has come to Kamorah as she has refined her crawling techniques. For a few months previous, she has been on the brink, but instead of full out crawling she would take just one or two crawls and then lunge forward with all her might, flopping to the ground at her destination. While it seemed to work for her, I knew that if she would only give the actual crawling part a chance she would realize she could reach a better result using less energy (and less rug burnage). I tried to help and coach her but knew I couldn't force it or the lesson would be lost and she would not develope the skills and strength she needed through the process.
Surely Father in Heaven must look down at me sometimes and wonder..."why must she insist on "lunging"? Come on girl, you can do it! If only you knew how much more efficient "crawling" would be." Yet He is patient with me, knowing I need to learn the lesson and develop the strength I need in order to move on to my next milestone.
One could find it rather daunting that we have been commanded to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48). But Thankfully Moroni clarifies this call to perfection by saying “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; … and love God with all your might, mind and strength, … that by his grace ye may be PERFECT IN CHRIST.” (Moro. 10:32.)
What a reassurance that we are not alone in our progression to perfection. That our call is not to be perfect on our own, but Perfect through our Perfect Mediator. Also, Father doesn't expect that we walk at birth or that we are ready for exaltation upon the first trial we encounter, He gives us time... baby stepping our way to perfection. Each milestone building upon and preparing us for the next.
“Nobody becomes perfect in this life. Only the Lord Jesus attained that state, and he had an advantage that none of us has. He was the Son of God. … Becoming perfect in Christ is a process.
“We begin to keep the commandments today,and we keep more of them tomorrow, and we go from grace to grace, up the steps of the ladder, and thus we improve and perfect our souls.” (1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year, Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1977, pages 399–400.)
That we have the baby steps to get there...a miracle
13 comments:
This post is so touching, so inspiring. Thank you, Sara. ♥
I needed this. I showed ANdy , you know, for inspiration, guidance of how to do it. It is different when you see a little person doing it
You remind me of when Brad was in the Seminary Teaching Program and they used to play a game called "Name the Principle." They'd put up random pictures of anything on the overhead, and they had to pull out a gospel principle from it. You would have smoked at that game, Sara! Thanks for helping us all to see God in all the little things around us.
That game sounds right up my alley! Hey any chance I have at being smoken, I'll take!
Ok I am cracking myself up! My comment posted as "clean cut" makes it even funnier. Babe, You already are smoken!
Hello Mrs. Clean Cut =)
I happened to come across your blog through your husband. You are blessed with a very beautiful family =)
The expressions of 'grace' in your family life interests me.
Thanks for posting this. I so needed to remember this idea today after a hard week. We really aren't expected to be perfect, just as I don't expect Kallie to play a concerto or whip up a gourmet meal right now. Thanks again... :)
Hello Mrs. Clean Cut,
Thank you for your words =) And thank you for those two links. And, yes, I agree - it seems we have a slightly differing views on 'grace'. The subject of 'grace' between LDS and non-LDS (I go to an Evangelical Church, BTW) largely depends (I guess) upon who we are in relation to who He is, right?
I don't know if you aware, but I have been a regular commentor on Jeff's Mormanity blog and I have, for this past year, come to understand some of the differences between LDS and non-LDS Christianity. I admire Jeff's ability to make the deep - simple. Well, simple enough for me to have my appetite wheted(!)
Anyway, I'll probably be hovering over yours and your husband's blog for a while...in a big-brother-esque manner =P
This is a great post Sara. It goes along with the 3rd lesson from the Joseph Smith manual. I was just thinking about how important the Atonement was, because it IS the only way that we can obtain perfection. And as daunting as that task might seem, our "Mediator" has made the way much easier.
I am sure you have heard the saying, "I didn't say it was easy, I just said it was worth it.." Well, I disagree with that. It IS easy, but we let "LIFE" get in the way. Christ has said,
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you , and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Our journey here toward perfection can be "EASY" if we look accept Christ. Why, when it is as simple as that do we struggle? Unfortunately "the mists of darkness" cloud our understanding of his promise to us.
Thanks for the post..it gave me a chance to mention what I have been thinking about lately.
NM-
Happy as always to have you along for the ride of our blogging. I don't imagine that there are too many people who are not LDS that look on this site and so I value your differing perspective. I appreciate your respect in our differences and hope you feel the same. Hover along.
Brianne,
Thank you so much for what you shared. I agree so completely with you. In fact, I have struggled with that exact (non-quote) but for different reasons. It is so true that he said it is easy. HE is the easy part. Once He is a part of our lives, then whatever is hard can be made easier through his lifting power.
I just so much appreciated this insight, thank you.
Ps little Morzy is spencer junior and i think addy is you! To a tee!!
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