Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day!

INTRO

Paige 13

Sailor 10

Cash 7

Sophie almost 2 

wife pregnant with #5

Saying that out loud is scary!!!!

I’m so grateful to be a parent. It truly is the biggest joy of my life… I tell you this only because I didn’t get that chance until later in life… long after I thought it wasn't possible. Long after I was considered a menace to society... and long after my hot teenage body was gone… and hair. 

I got married when I was 34 to my first crush!!! And when I married my wife I also married into 3 beautiful kids… things which maybe don’t fit the "mormon mold”

So my talk today is for moms that don’t feel like they always fit the perfect mold of motherhood… 

Maybe you’ve been unable to have children

Or maybe you have children and that’s your problem

Maybe you’re not the mother you thought you would be

Or maybe everything is so perfect that you don’t fit the mold either

in all honesty there is a no mold for mothers other than we all have a mother! 

and in most cases our moms mean the world to us. 

Being married I’m seeing first hand this amazing and beautiful difference between men and women. Boys and girls. We come here with completely different gifts, talents and perspectives. And these differences are beautiful and need to be protected! 

In our house Cash and I are surrounded by 4 beautiful girls and I'm learning all about hair, trees, flowers, dolls, puppies, and one of my baby's favorite words… “Pretties” which describes beautiful pretty things like getting her pony tails done, or painting her nails, putting on lipstick, pretty dresses, and coloring everything… My wife, my daughters Paige, Sailor, and Sophie make everywhere they go more beautiful and fun. Cash and I struggle to comb our hair. And all of these girls have a special sensitivity... especially to the spirit.

I first saw the spiritual strength of women on my mission in Paraguay. I served as the branch president in a small rural area. There were not active or worthy males to take the position… and yet there were 50-60 amazing women raising their families in the gospel either by themselves or with an less active or non-member husband. Since then I’ve seen many women step up and do the same and yet I’ve rarely seen men with less active wives be able to make it very long. Women have a spiritual strength that we men have to work hard for. They have a selflessness that many of us men lack. 

I remember my dad bringing this up a few times to me as well... By saying how amazing it is that men and women are so different because he wanted to kill me the day before but mom saved my life.

Sisters! There are many gifts, qualities, blessings that make you all so beautiful, unique and an amazing additions to our lives and world. 

After creating the heaven and the earth, the light, grass, herb, trees, great whales, cattle and every living thing.

there was not a man to till the ground...

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

and then I can onlyimagine what happened next… but I imagine God came and looked around atthis world that Adam was starting to decorate and put his hand down and saidwhoa!!!! “It is not good that the man should be alone” 

Brothers and sisters I’ve had a similar experience many times walking in and out of homes with clients. The home is perfect! everything they want… and yet right before we leave they say something like “This house is so weird” and I have to stop them and point out something I can see so clearly because I was there for so long. I have to show them that this is a single guys home… and its missing a certain touch. then the lights click on and they realize the house is perfect…  

Now I'm not talking decorating when I say this. I talking something deeper. You women make every part of our world a more beautiful place.

Bill Withers sang: Ain't no sunshine when she's gone… Only darkness every day

Brothers and sisters: Without my wife and daughters I don't even open the blinds… so in my life… he’s spot on!

----

I based my talk today on a talk from Elder Holland… Behold thy mother

If you haven’t heard it… please go listen too it. Listen to Elder Holland himself give it.. its amazing!

In the talk he talks about the savior and quotes Isaiah saying, “He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” Then said “[Jesus] came into the world … to bear the sins of the world.”2 Both ancient and modern scripture testify that “he redeemed them, and bore them, and carried them all the days of old.”3 A favorite hymn pleads with us to “hear your great Deliv’rer’s voice!”4

Then Elder Holland said

Bear, borne, carry, deliver. These are powerful, heartening messianic words. They convey help and hope for safe movement from where we are to where we need to be—but cannot get without assistance.

I want to repeat that part if I may: Bear, borne, carry, deliver…. They express a hope for where we need to be—but cannot get without assistance.

 These words also connote burden, struggle, and fatigue—words most appropriate in describing the mission of Him who, at unspeakable cost, lifts us up when we have fallen, carries us forward when strength is gone, delivers us safely home when safety seems far beyond our reach.

Then he says: can you hearin this language another arena of human endeavor in which we use words likebear and borne,carry and lift, labor and deliver? As Jesus said to John whilein the very act of Atonement, so He says to us all, “Behold thy mother!”6 Afterseeing all that you mothers go through to give birth and take care of thesebeautiful little babies… surely there is no love that comes closer to thepure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for herchild. 

----

Bros and sisters: I have no desire to live in a world without women! Your love will help us all get through this life

quick stories

1. My own mother is one of the most amazing woman I know!! She's gone through some hard things. My father died when I was 21… leaving my mom to raise 6 kids all in their most vulnerable years of life. My mother is a saint!!! A modern day pioneer! After my father died my mom rented 2 Uhauls (this biggest ones you could get) strapped the family station wagon to the back and drove from CA to UT to start a new life. My mom is a woman of integrity and love. My mother like so many of you has always been incredible member of the relief society. I watched my mother for years take care of others and serve through this society. I remember waking one morning after my mom and several ladies spent half the night tieing quilts while talking about everyone in need… I made a poor joke then about how it should be called the gossip society. When my father died the relief society was right there and quickly went into action! Members 100s of miles away were notified within minutes and started reaching out to help my mom and family. I will love the relief society and the amazing service you women in it do for as long as I live. These same women have called, served, and checked in on my mom regularly for over 14 years now. I love them with all my heart!!! and know the organization of the relief society truly is heaven sent!

1. I met my wife at age 15 in the cafeteria at Ricks college. I say met… but no words were spoken... she was and is the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. 20 years later… she finally gave me a chance! She is the most steady women I’ve ever met… She too has gone through very hard things! and come out on top! She’s a woman of purity, righteousness, and love. She stands tall for what is right always! Our women are full of beauty, gifts, qualities and blessings that I love and adore about them all!!!!

2. my last thought is about my grandmother… about 10-12 years ago… I graduated from college and tried to make it big!!! Instead I fell on my face a few times. I found a period of life where I went by my grandmas house when I was down… and she would quickly sit me down and feed me and I would tell her all about my life. She’s always had a special love for me and all her grandkids. But, this was a different stage of life for me… and I started telling her my struggles and problems. I quickly found that she loved me entirely… and didn’t care at all that I had made some mistakes. now only 12 yrs later… I find myself with the sweet grandma… now helpless and bed ridden… and in need of being spoon fed. she can barely talk. and can’t walk… But, she’s still beautiful to me and I still feel her overwhelming love for me. I will forever be grateful to her and the heritage she’s leaving behind. a heritage of love, family, service. 

Sisters I love you all! I hope you all have an amazing mothers day. I hope we men  can all be more worthy of your love, devotion, beauty, and strength and say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen!