one by one
I'm reading a book by Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in my church—the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called One by One. It is a deep look at the way that Jesus Christ ministered to and taught people while on the earth—one by one. He was—and always is—concerned about taking care of the one, the individual. One of the first chapters is about many people's experiences having the chance to serve an individual in a way clearly orchestrated by Heavenly Father; the worth of souls is so clear as we look around at the experiences we have taking care of people around us.
Elder Bednar says it over and over again in the book: the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. And I know that's true.
I had been reading after I put Ada down for a nap, but she didn't go right down and I went in to calm her down and rock her for a minute. As I held her and sang to her and brushed her hair back, I thought about how amazing it has been to be her mother, to watch firsthand as she grows, changes, and becomes even more the person God knows she can be. She is spunky, and funny, and clever, and curious, and happy, and real, and so in love with me and with M and with those close to her. She's so in love with life. Being the main person who gets to serve and care for her as an individual is such a privilege.
I feel like parenthood is becoming the ultimate way to serve and minister one by one—because I spend all day with a perfect, blonde, little ONE. And no matter what she becomes: an engineer, a writer, a painter, an entrepreneur, a lawyer, a photographer, a banker, an administrator, and no matter what she dreams about doing, no matter what she accomplishes, no matter where she lives, what she chooses and how she chooses to embrace life, she will always be my ONE. My first one that I watched from the beginning into forever. She is the one I will always know as well as she knows. I will always know how she has always been, and I have been able to help shape her [hopefully] into the kind of person who wants to serve and care for people individually, and not just in masses or not at all. The way she has made me want to be better and the way she has helped me to become more selfless and individualized in my care for her as my little human, it's exactly how God wants us to love and serve everyone.
In that moment rocking her, I felt all of that, and my gratitude for that tiny person was overwhelming. I love who she is, and I love who she is helping me become. One by one.
Elder Bednar says it over and over again in the book: the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. And I know that's true.
I had been reading after I put Ada down for a nap, but she didn't go right down and I went in to calm her down and rock her for a minute. As I held her and sang to her and brushed her hair back, I thought about how amazing it has been to be her mother, to watch firsthand as she grows, changes, and becomes even more the person God knows she can be. She is spunky, and funny, and clever, and curious, and happy, and real, and so in love with me and with M and with those close to her. She's so in love with life. Being the main person who gets to serve and care for her as an individual is such a privilege.
I feel like parenthood is becoming the ultimate way to serve and minister one by one—because I spend all day with a perfect, blonde, little ONE. And no matter what she becomes: an engineer, a writer, a painter, an entrepreneur, a lawyer, a photographer, a banker, an administrator, and no matter what she dreams about doing, no matter what she accomplishes, no matter where she lives, what she chooses and how she chooses to embrace life, she will always be my ONE. My first one that I watched from the beginning into forever. She is the one I will always know as well as she knows. I will always know how she has always been, and I have been able to help shape her [hopefully] into the kind of person who wants to serve and care for people individually, and not just in masses or not at all. The way she has made me want to be better and the way she has helped me to become more selfless and individualized in my care for her as my little human, it's exactly how God wants us to love and serve everyone.
In that moment rocking her, I felt all of that, and my gratitude for that tiny person was overwhelming. I love who she is, and I love who she is helping me become. One by one.
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