More Diligent and Concerned at Home--Love

My thoughts on Elder Bednar's talk "More Diligent and Concerned at Home."



I think this is my favorite talk from this General Conference. When I heard it the first time it was like getting that pat on the back. I also felt like I was listening to my mom telling me that I am doing alright and to keep on going. As I read it now with the news one of our sons gave us, I can only look at it with great hope in a promise. I hear my mom telling me that as long as I'm going what I'm supposed to I will be OK.



I have reread this several times and each time I read it I mark something else. It is beginning to look a lot like Alma 5 ~smile~.



I think I will break this up into a three part post.



Express Love and Show It!



"We simple should sincerely and frequently express love."



How often do we tell our spouse or our children we love them? Probably not enough especially when we are going through a very troubling time with one of them. I need to do better.

Love is expressed in so many ways. I like to be told "I love you" through service. One of the best ways for my children to show me they love me is to do their jobs and then just a bit extra. I know that is how I showed my mom I loved her. That's how I show my husband and my kids.

The second way would be to say it. I write that and then know how easy it is to through the "I love you" words out there and not mean them. There has to be some meaning behind them.

Another way is through time spent together. I think as a homeschooling family that sometimes get lost and we need to make an effort to set aside "love time" (I just came up with that phrase). It is so hard. I know now that my kids are older they are here, there and everywhere and I'm not sure when I will have the time to be with them next. And the teens don't want to be with me. I'm not cool and being with your mom isn't cool. Oh, well.

Hugs are another way and hard to get from my teens. Everyone has a different tolerance to touchy feely love. I don't have a great tolerance, but I don't mind hugs.

Another way is through gifts. I don't like this way at all. Maybe it is because I grew up so poor, but I'm not keen on giving or getting gifts, but when I do give a gift it must really mean I'm thinking of you because it is the last thing on my mind and I must have reach long and hard to come to that conclusion.

(yes, it this is from the five love language theory).