I Will Stregthen Thee, I will Help Thee

My thoughts on Sister Allred's talk "I Will Stregthen Thee, I Will Help Thee."

I will admit that I don’t know Sister Allred at all, so it was nice getting to know her.
WOW what a talk! Full of great wisdom and information.

I am asking the same question, “What is happening to families?” What is happening to MY family?

Just recently a 13 year old boy was shot twice in the leg by a police officer up here in Seattle. What is awful is that the questions are being thrown at the police officer not the boy. See the circumstances around this shooting are this: it was 3AM and the boy and his other young teen friend were in “bad” part of town tagging buildings. The officer told them to raise their hands and the boy reached into his pocket (can’t remember if it was pants or jacket) to grab his cell phone. Well, the officer didn’t think twice but shot the boy in the leg. Now the family (and media) is up in arms that a police man would shoot such a young boy. I’m upset that the parents haven’t punished him worse than the law! What boy, especially a 13 year old boy needs to be out on a school night (yes, in the middle of the week) tagging buildings at 3AM. The only people awake at 3AM should be the bakers! Where are the PARENTS!!!!!????????!!!!!!

Satan has done a great job at ruining families and we have to stop him at our door and not let him in.

Sister Allred said, “Satan is working overtime to attack the family. He tells us that marriage is not important, that children do not need a father and a mother, and that strong families are not important. He tells us that moral values are old-fashioned and silly. When challenges come, Satan tells us to abandon our beliefs and go with the ways of the world. He entices us with fame and fortune and tells us where to find the easy life. He attacks our faith in God and tries to discourage even the strongest and most loving families. Satan is delighted when we give in—even just a little.”

I feel it, do you?

Is your family stable? Sister Allred’s definition of a stable family is one that has a plan, an anchor a core set of values and standards that set their course. Have you taken time to define these for your family? Might make for a great FHE lesson. I see images of a boat here. Maybe I will get creative tonight.

Simple things she says, HA! This is where Satan does his best in trying to get in our family. Putting my arms around my boys, “that’s sissy stuff.” Kind words? I don’t think they have been spoken since we have had a teen. Show examples of hard work. Done every day, but they aren’t watching! Teach them to pray—every other FHE lesson is on prayer and they still don’t get it. Read to my children---at least I’m doing that one—but it is “school” and so it doesn’t count right? “You have to do that mom, you’re the teacher.” Scriptures are done daily (except weekends) and I’m not sure they get it. In one ear out the other. Guilty? I have more than my share of it! Apologize, tried and done. Forgiveness seems to be missing in my house.

Well, at least I can do one things she lists: “Change your ways and move on.” (Dang if every talk isn’t a call to repentance for me this time!)

I think I need that time out, but every time I leave the room (or home) I come back and within minutes every bit of patience I went out to find is gone! Please someone lie and tell me this happens at their house too. I think I even lose more patience when I deal with them and their school work. How do you get the patience you need to deal with teens? She says, “It takes a lot of patience to raise a child.” I have six and I don’t have enough patience for the “I know it all” teens. I’m struggling here and drowning. I’m really tired of the lazy attitude of these boys. I’m tempted to throw them in the cesspool of PS just so they have busy work!

Providing relief to families. I love the fact that she says this and I wish MORE and MORE people inside the church would get this: “…the first responsibility for teaching children and strengthening the family lies with the parents.” Why don’t we understand this! It is our job! Could it be that we are letting the philosophies of men seep into our homes and corrupt what we know is right? It is after this that the Lord can back us up! And this is why I pray for the best men to be my boys’ priesthood leaders. I don’t want the best men in the bishopric—no I want them as the YM’s leaders! I pray for them. I pray that they will back me up and support what I’m teaching at home. I open a line of communication so they know what we are dealing with at home and they can help me out and support me in their meetings. This isn’t an option for me. It is difficult enough to deal with the teen attitude at home, but just maybe if I have back up it will change.

With that, comes my responsibility to do likewise. It is my responsibility to back up other parents’ teaching and helping them stress what they are teaching in their home. Unfortunately at this time, I don’t have a church job that allows that so my connection with the youth has to be sought out. I hope that I do do that.

Sister Allred says, “As Relief Society sisters we can help one another to strengthen families. We are given opportunities to serve in many capacities.” Visiting teachers comes to mind and I’m repenting.
She says, “You older sisters have much good advice and experience to share with younger mothers.” As my mom goes through the ravages of Alzheimer’s oh how I crave this advice. We just don’t have opportunities to share like we use to. We are all just too busy.

I will have to hit my knees harder to become humble, “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee…”