"And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord; insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness."
Since Nephi was reflecting and writing about his experiences I can sense a little sorrow with the knowledge that his brothers chose a different path. I look at my children and feel the same way when I seem them walking in the paths of righteousness. I am hopeful that they will continue to choose correctly.
I have wondered about my children who have wandered off the paths of righteousness; I still hope that they will return to the correct path. I do feel a little sorrow because I know they know the truth and have chosen otherwise. I often wonder if they will be as prideful as Laman and Lemuel and never return to the straight and norrow path.
I have had occassion to correct my children and have been treated with disrespect and told that I was being controlling and unfair. Those words heart my feelings and I have felt bad that I had angered them. I have been struggling with this for some time and wondered if I should have kept my words to myself. I have since learned that I was right to say something. And I have also learned why my family has regarded me as being harsh. I discovered this in reading the scriptures:
"And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear.
"And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.
"And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord. " - 1 Nephi 16:1-4
I know that as a mother and a wife I have the divine right to instruct my children and give them guidance. I also have the responsibility to correct them when they are wrong. I have an equally responsible duty to counsel with my husband.
As long as I have hope for my family I can with confidence continue to guide and direct them to do what is right.
1 comment:
I was talking to Dad on Saturday about children, and he said he always thinks of what the apostles and prophets have said about our children, that if we are righteous, they will come back. No pressure! Ha ha ha!
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