I've gotta tell ya, it shook my testimony a bit, drove me to my knees to plead with my Heavenly Father for understanding! 11 months later, I was ready for the answer. It came in a quiet moment on a Sunday morning. A quiet whisper, more of a feeling than words spoken to my mind....
"Even Heavenly Father had to withdraw from His son for a time so that He could bring salvation to the world"
Oh dear....how could I have been so selfish? He would never ask me to do something that he wouldn't do Himself. My Heavenly Father... a perfect parent. He loves my son more perfectly than I am able! *SIGH*
I shared this little bit of personal revelation with my missionary last week...his response...
"It's not just what Jesus needed to do for us, but he also needed to grow himself. I have grown more personally than I can ever imagine to change someone else. I just do what The Lord tells me and let him change people and try my hardest to let him change me in the process."
WHO IS THAT KID??? It's happening already...my son is leading others to salvation, and my little boy --deep breath-- my little boy is growing up. Just like my Father in Heaven knew he would.
****THE GOSPEL IS TRUE****
~Heidi =0)
Love it and so true! Its amazing to me the growth I've seen in so many of these young men and women, and really, especially the men. They are an incredible generation.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully stated!!! Tears here.
ReplyDeleteSo powerful and true, thank you! -Stephanie Roberts
ReplyDeleteThank you, I needed to hear this message today. She's been out 11 months today.
ReplyDeleteTears.......... Thank you
ReplyDeleteI love being a missionary mom:) I am filled with joy and gratitude:)It is truly the Lord's classroom!!
ReplyDeleteWell said!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the answer you got. I served a mission so I get the Gethesmene experience that is is for our youth. I KNOW that they have to struggle and grow with out us. This is the transition they and we have to go through for them to become men and woman. We send boys on missions and men come home. Then they are ready to equally yolked with valiant sons or daughters and carve their own lives separate from us.
ReplyDeleteI morn for my other daughters that serving a mission is not a priority for. They don't understand the life changing experience it is for them and the people they serve. I don't think you can find a parallel experience any where on the planet like it.
What beautiful inspiration! I was missing my daughter more than anything when our youngest was baptized last month and we were all there...except for her. But I had the most amazing calm come over me later and I knew she was where she is supposed to be, doing what she is supposed to do and bring others to those same waters of baptism.
ReplyDeleteI know this shows as "Elder Batson," and I can't quite figure out how to change it... But, my "Elder," my child, the light of my life, has been on the other side of the world for twenty months. All of my focus has been on the worry of my child being so far away, I have worried over his challenges, cried when I had to share bad news with him. Loved sending uplifting spiritual thoughts and messages. But yesterday's email he asked me to do some things for him that gave me the epiphany that he will in fact be coming home a man. An adult. Someone who I can trust to make his choices for life. I was so scared of the challenges of the mission, but I'm so thankful for the blessings it has given my son, my whole family.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. I too felt this little pain but I realized that Heavenly Father allowed me to have him for 18 years. I've enjoyed it and I know I'll have him for eternity, so 2 years is nothing. Even better, he comes back as a man.
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing us to all grown together as Missionary Mommas.
Thank you for sharing what you have learned. It was beautifully stated, and I think so many Missionary Mommas will appreciate learning from your experience. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteAmen!!! My thoughts exactly!
ReplyDeleteDitto
ReplyDeleteI can not deny that it is difficult! But the blessings are undeniable! I know I will miss having a missionary out. The weekly emails between just me and my missionary and the special spirit that exist in our home!
ReplyDeleteThat was beautiful and well said! I definitely have had those thoughts. I know he is growing and I worry for when he comes home that he won't be my little boy anymore but know it's how the Lord wants it.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way. Thank you for sharing. Love your son's comments.
ReplyDeleteIt IS hard, but we can DO this! HUGS.
ReplyDeleteLoved this thread. Our children truly are sent to be here at this moment in time. As we have been to have the errand to be their mommas! There is no mistake in the Lord's work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteWell said!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I have had a lot of those same feelings. Then I remember everything Heavenly Father and Jesus went through! How could I not do my small tiny part!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your comments. Mine has yet to leave and he is already changing. I am looking forward to how much he will grow spiritually while he is gone and he is already so strong.
ReplyDeleteAs I was preparing my gospel doctrine lesson about Samuel.. I thought about how Hannah promised to give her child to the Lord and how hard that must have been for her. Then I started thinking about my own children... It is wonderful to see such growth in them when we let them stretch their wings and fly solo. Well, they aren't really flying solo! Heavenly Father is with them all along the way. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate. I always think of us as spirit children leaving our heavenly home to come to earth. It must have been hard on our heavenly parents but so worth the growth that they knew would take place. I think of my children serving missions in the same manner. So very hard to leave home, with such little contact, but so worth the spiritual growth and development.
ReplyDeleteI feel like that! You have such a good way of describing those feelings! Our children truly bless lives and are blessed in turn!
ReplyDeleteIn the past 1.5, I have seen my son grow up. I was so scared to send my son out in the world. i was scared because he has struggled in school. He doesn't learn like a normal kid. I was worried , about how he would learn to teach the gospel to the people of OKC. Then when he arrived in OKC, I knew that the Lord, was guiding him. Giving him the tools that he needed to be able to teach the people. He has touched lives, with just his sweet smile, and big heart. I also, know the blessings we as families receive is just as equivalent. I know for a fact that we may have never learned of my 15 year old sons cancer until it was really bad, had it not been for my son serving a mission. My son has always been close to his father, not really close to me, but recently he learned that I work just as hard, and he told me he was grateful for all that I do. I had never heard those words from him.
ReplyDeleteOur young men and women grow leaps and bounds, and the blessings that they receive from serving so willingly, and unconditionally, expands from having family members being so willing to give up these young adults to the service of our Heavenly Father.
I grew up in an inactive family. It was very confusing to have parents that did the opposite of what I was learning in Primary. Now our daughter reached her 1 year mark last week and is teaching those things I didn't learn in my family growing up. I miss her terribly and so do her 2 special needs sisters. But Idaho needs her more than we do at this time.
ReplyDeleteI've been struggling with these feelings too! What has helped is that I have a daughter who is about to come home from her mission in a little over two months, and I wouldn't have denied her this opportunity for growth for anything! She has learned and changed so much, and she was pretty fantastic before! I can't deny my son the same opportunity. It would be selfish of me. (But oh, how hard it is to be unselfish at times!) Thank you for your message!
ReplyDeleteI so understand these emotions! Most of the time I think I do well with her being gone - most of the time. Yet, when that email comes and she is struggling or discouraged - then the Mom in me struggles. I have learned to get on my knees and pray and to ask for guidance in my replies. I try to remind myself that the Lord is watching over her and will help her through. Thank you for sharing! Love this.
ReplyDeleteSo grateful to be witnessing this in my Missionary son as well. It is in the struggles one learns to rely on Him who knows us best, and loves us always.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the beautiful thoughts! Just what I needed to read and can't wait to share them with my missionary.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this! One of the hardest things was to watch my son turn and walk into the MTC knowing that I would not see him for 2 years and that he would be flying, riding a bus, who knows what else to get to a remote part of southern Argentina. But, oh the joy that comes each week when I hear from him and read how his testimony is growing! LOVE
ReplyDeleteI should know by now NOT to read your posts when i'm working!! Crying and then talking to customers is sooo much fun!! (((HUGS)))))
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way...I really want my son, but I also want him to change and grow. I'm so excited to see that growth in a few months!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way love what you are sharing !!
ReplyDelete