I spent the night before my first motherless Mother's Day writing this talk I don't know why other than that I wanted something to think about while I listened to all the wonderful stories about my friends mothers that day....
I believe as The Family: A Proclamation to the World states, Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.
I also believe as our circumstances as women as a whole vary so very much our "mother" nurturing influence can and should extend beyond the walls of our own homes.
I found myself all to recently standing at the pulpit of a packed even into the overflow of a stake center, speaking of my dear mother after she had left mortality. I was astonished by the number of people present with whom I had no prior acquaintance. Most of these people whom to me will ever remain nameless, spoke to me of how my mother nurtured them through their darkest hours, her career as a marriage & family, adolescent , & child counselor had given her countless opportunities to nurture her fellow man.
We all of us have opportunities to nurture those around us. This nurturing I believe if we go about it as we should can turn into the pure love of Christ expressed through us his servants.
In his most recent conference address Pres. Utchdorf spoke these words which have been to me as they were emblazoned upon my heart."How blessed we are if we recognize God’s handiwork in the marvelous tapestry of life. Gratitude to our Father in Heaven broadens our perception and clears our vision. It inspires humility and fosters empathy toward our fellowmen and all of God’s creation. Gratitude is a catalyst to all Christlike attributes (Grateful in Any Circumstances)
I know that if we will but use our experiences to create in us that empathy President Utchdorf says will clear our vision and broaden our perception that as Mothers, women, and nurtures one day our lives will follow the Saviors own words in Moses 6:63
63 And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.
I know all of my imperfection and I have a lot of them but I know as the Savior himself said I have been created to bear record of Him.
I know that as I exercise the unique ability to nurture given to our Heavenly Fathers daughters here on earth I will continue increase my knowledge of Him &
His ways. I know my Savior lives! I know through the atonement His empathy for us is complete and I know if we are able to take the grief and trials that our given to us in this life & use them to nurture our fellow men we will be filled with the true love of Christ. I know on this day that is a celebration of mothers, I celebrate more women than just the one who raised me, I find myself celebrating so many of the women who have impact fully touched my life. I know women hood is indeed sacred & that I love God & this Gospel and hope as I continue to grow and learn that I will become a more profitable servant.
and.... These are the words I spake at the funeral of the women I love most
"In my mother's eyes I am strong and wise and I know no fear. But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me. I see who I wanna be. In my mother's eyes. In my mother's eyes everyone is equal. Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace. This miracle God gave to me gives me strength when I am weak. I find reason to believe . In my mother's eyes
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about
It's hanging on when your heart
has had enough It's giving more when you feel like giving up. I've seen the light. It's in my mother's eyes. In my mother's eyes I can see the future A reflection of who I can be. Though she's had leave I hope you see how happy she made me
During the last month or so I've had the honor of helping my mother and her ailing body, with an almost impossible amount of visitors in the last month or so the common thread In the comments regarding my mothers is her ability to see who each could be. Of all the Christlike qualities to move to the next world with, this quality she posses is the true love of Christ. I hope to find even a small percentage of this love, along with her wit, wisdom, intellect, charity, compassion some where in my genetic makeup. Throughout me her genes flow and I feel now the task of claiming the heritage she has gifted me, I hope to become even a portion of what she is & by doing so I know I will feel her presence throughout my life. She gifted so many with so much of herself and about few can truly be said we are better for having known her..she is truly that women, a women who left each person in her wake more whole and more capable. I was given the best mother, and for that I will be forever thankful to my Heavenly Father. Until we meet again my eternal mom, I love you always"
