Yesterday, during fast and testimony meeting, a woman bore testimony of her life, and the joys and sorrows she has experienced as she has watched children make right and wrong choices. And another mother, compassion for the first sister, expressed her understanding and shared in those same experiences.
Yet another sister expressed how much she has learned, as a newly called Relief Society President, the silent sorrows that many bear alone as they cope with disappointments and sadness in their lives. But when these sorrows and disappointments are shared, with trusted sisters in the Gospel, kindness and love can be distributed and loads can be lightened, and burdens can be made less burdensome.
We need to always love and not judge other's trials as they struggle to bear them because we know not from where they come and what their lives have been to lead to the place they are in.
And while we need love and compassion, we need to use wisdom in decisions we make as well, and not allow our own good judgement to cloud our individual choices for ourselves, in spite of others' struggles and burdens. And when our own children struggle along, trying to figure out their life, we must lift and support, but now allow ourselves to change our standards to fit their needs. Rather we must love them unconditionally in spite of themselves. And hope that that love will bring them back to where they know they should be rather than it pushing them away.
So, the parenting cycle never really ends.
I'm sure our Heavenly Father can attest to that!
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