Don't Leave for Tomorrow What You Can Do Today

My thoughts on Elder Costa's talk "Don't Leave for Tomorrow What You Can Do Today"

“Many parents argue they don’t have time for their families.”
My question is then: WHY HAVE THEM!?!?!?? I’ve never understood that. I truly have not.

What do we teach? (well it is simple if you read D&C 88 (start around 70 and go to 85ish)
But is great to have the Proclamation to help us. I truly have come to love those words. I haven’t ever memorized it, but phrases and bits and pieces stick in my mind often. I know my kids quote “wholesome recreational activities” almost every Saturday morning when I hand out the work list. (WARNING TO SELF—SATURDAY IS TOMORROW!)

We are doing those three things (family prayer, FHE, personal and family scripture study) and even though I might not admit it I think we are reaping the benefits every now and then. Of course not often enough to suit me, but I am seeing them work.

These three things strengthen our faith and testimony—they can’t but help!

(Ok, is it just me and my homeschooler eyes, but does this talk have a lot of phrases like “in the home we learn”?)

“We can lay down our lives for those we love not by physically dying for them but rather by living for them—giving of our time; always being present in their lives; serving them; being courteous, affectionate, and showing true love for those of our family and to all men—as the Savior taught.”

What a thought!

I can’t talk about the rest of the talk in light of what my family is going through this week. But I can testify that things happen at odd times and you need to be prepared physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and financially for them to happen. We are just going through our accounts, passwords etc so that if one of isn’t here tomorrow our family and the businesses can continue (or the other one knows how to shut it down). That is physically and financially prepared. The other ways—well, I’m not sure I could ever mentally be prepared for something like that, but I often think, “What if that was the last time I see him? Does he know I love him? What were my last words to him?” That usually prompts and email or phone call. I’m starting to do that to my teens who are becoming less home bound as well. I make sure they know I love them before I go to bed. My mom use to say, “I love you” all the time. I thought it really weird, but now….