This was my talk on the
Sermon on the Mount. I want to share it because maybe it will help
someone who struggles as an ordinary person like me. (June 10, 2012)
Once upon a time, there was a stay at home mom princess (my name Sara means princess). She had undergone 10 years of motherhood and 11 ½ yrs of wifehood. Many years, 9 to be close to exact, were spent under the dark cloud of postpartum depression. These dark years made it difficult for the princess to feel good and be happy and she was not the person she had known nor wanted to be. She struggled with being a good mom since she loved her children so much and this cloud made life just plain hard on everyone. Just ask the prince. :) Through this tough time, the princess was frustrated because she couldn’t see any good from this experience. She struggled to know how a quick temper and low tolerance could be any good for her family. Little did she know that the Lord had this in his plan. As a woman, she was an expert analyzer, and was able to see a transformation. A very difficult transformation in her. She was once a capable, talented woman who could do anything-and still can, but the need to allow others to take care of her and her family arose. The prince was a good husband but there was more he needed to do for her. He must do things for her that just didn’t make sense to him or her. Who knew they would need their already great relationship to adjust so dramatically. Maybe there is a reason they need this in the future.
Then there was the children. The princess had struggled more especially since children are great triggers of emotion. The relationship she had thought she needed with her children had to be changed as well. They needed to help in this process too because their mother was in need. Asking them to step up and help make mom happy was something the princess thought was too much to ask, but it wasn’t. They were delighted and pleased to be needed and given the responsibility to be patient with their princess mom. She asked for forgiveness and they were happy to give it each time times got tough.
The princess started sifting and prioritizing her family’s schedule and found simplicity was the best. In their already financially tight little world more could be taken out. Distractions were everywhere and then they started to be unnecessary and choices were made to keep away from them. She soon learned she must take care of herself too and has pulled in her family to help her since she was not very good at this. She has learned just enough to keep trying but is still trying to make that work well.
There came a time when the Lord saw fit that the dark cloud should be lifted. The princess knew that just because it was gone it didn’t mean everything would be perfect. She had to adjust to her new found life and knew it would take time and the same efforts she had learned while the cloud was there. The dark clouds effect was so deep that she has not forgotten and is grateful she will not forget because she knows those lessons are more set in stone.
Now, almost 2 years free from the dark cloud, along comes a billowing trial. Yes, her family must move. What once would have been a devastating experience is now met with faith, the giver of peace and bravery. Who knew a change in her handsome prince’s job would bring about an old home to finish to live in, the exasperating process to sell the home they loved and enjoyed at much less than is owed, and a change of neighbors and a new school for the children. How could the prince and princess handle living so far from the store and baseball practice?
In the princesses heart she knew it could be done. Peace was spoken to her heart, which she learned from her days in the dark cloud, and she reveled this to her children, which in turn felt the peace in their hearts. The prince was not at peace to sell a house he loved. Heavenly Father knows the prince and gradually allowed the prince to obtain that peace as well.
*How can trust develop that is so strong with confidence?
The princess recognized that in those trialing 9 years she and her family had begun a process. Direction and tools were given for this surely is only part of their progress. More will come and will need to build upon what has already been learned. They had made it through so much and had been consistent in reading their scriptures and praying and going to church, they knew they would continue to be helped as before.
What can a family suffering from postpartum depression gain? Yes the whole family suffered from it. Endurance, Trust in the Lord’s timing, forgiveness, patience and humility were all introduced among others.
The family learned they cannot do it alone. They were to help each other and reach out to find help from others. In turn, they wanted to help others too. They will continue to pick up additional tools in their journey to help them since they know Heavenly Father has a plan for them and he takes special care to give them each ingredient at the right time in the right way if they pay attention. The brilliance of this plan is that we need imperfect people to help us become perfect.
I know this is such a simple story and adding flowering words doesn’t change that. I just know that it is mine. If I simplify, I see how the Sermon on the Mount gradually works in my life. We started to build our foundation on a rock since we have gained some wisdom. My seminary teacher told us The Sermon on the Mount is “The Lord’s blueprint for perfection.” We can do it with the Lord’s help and guidance.
How do we hunger and thirst after righteousness, be meek, merciful, pure in heart, poor in spirit, be peacemakers, be persecuted for righteous sake? How can we be the salt of the earth, and a light of the world? Live the higher law? Fast correctly? Forgive, give good fruit? And everything else Christ talks about? There’s so much!
*I know we can with the spirit guiding us-We have to simplify and prioritize to allow ourselves the ability to hear the spirit.
*As a mom I hunger and thirst after righteousness, my every day life depends on it. Raising kids and being responsible for them is really hard. I needed the Lord’s help with every step. Being righteous means being the best parent I can be.
People keep asking me what am I going to do now that I have “nothing to do” with my kids in school next year. As I see it, I have plenty to do. Plenty of people are telling me how much I’m going to enjoy working at a job while my kids are in school. I know my answer is to simplify and for me a job is not simple. Through our financial crunch I know we will be happier with the smaller income and with me at home as a support.
I’m going to keep trying to get my home in order. I’m going to keep working to sift through the distractions and keep my priorities straight. I want to be completely available for my family and in tune with the spirit to help my children and husband. I want to be available to serve others and be thoughtful towards them.
Once upon a time, there was a stay at home mom princess (my name Sara means princess). She had undergone 10 years of motherhood and 11 ½ yrs of wifehood. Many years, 9 to be close to exact, were spent under the dark cloud of postpartum depression. These dark years made it difficult for the princess to feel good and be happy and she was not the person she had known nor wanted to be. She struggled with being a good mom since she loved her children so much and this cloud made life just plain hard on everyone. Just ask the prince. :) Through this tough time, the princess was frustrated because she couldn’t see any good from this experience. She struggled to know how a quick temper and low tolerance could be any good for her family. Little did she know that the Lord had this in his plan. As a woman, she was an expert analyzer, and was able to see a transformation. A very difficult transformation in her. She was once a capable, talented woman who could do anything-and still can, but the need to allow others to take care of her and her family arose. The prince was a good husband but there was more he needed to do for her. He must do things for her that just didn’t make sense to him or her. Who knew they would need their already great relationship to adjust so dramatically. Maybe there is a reason they need this in the future.
Then there was the children. The princess had struggled more especially since children are great triggers of emotion. The relationship she had thought she needed with her children had to be changed as well. They needed to help in this process too because their mother was in need. Asking them to step up and help make mom happy was something the princess thought was too much to ask, but it wasn’t. They were delighted and pleased to be needed and given the responsibility to be patient with their princess mom. She asked for forgiveness and they were happy to give it each time times got tough.
The princess started sifting and prioritizing her family’s schedule and found simplicity was the best. In their already financially tight little world more could be taken out. Distractions were everywhere and then they started to be unnecessary and choices were made to keep away from them. She soon learned she must take care of herself too and has pulled in her family to help her since she was not very good at this. She has learned just enough to keep trying but is still trying to make that work well.
There came a time when the Lord saw fit that the dark cloud should be lifted. The princess knew that just because it was gone it didn’t mean everything would be perfect. She had to adjust to her new found life and knew it would take time and the same efforts she had learned while the cloud was there. The dark clouds effect was so deep that she has not forgotten and is grateful she will not forget because she knows those lessons are more set in stone.
Now, almost 2 years free from the dark cloud, along comes a billowing trial. Yes, her family must move. What once would have been a devastating experience is now met with faith, the giver of peace and bravery. Who knew a change in her handsome prince’s job would bring about an old home to finish to live in, the exasperating process to sell the home they loved and enjoyed at much less than is owed, and a change of neighbors and a new school for the children. How could the prince and princess handle living so far from the store and baseball practice?
In the princesses heart she knew it could be done. Peace was spoken to her heart, which she learned from her days in the dark cloud, and she reveled this to her children, which in turn felt the peace in their hearts. The prince was not at peace to sell a house he loved. Heavenly Father knows the prince and gradually allowed the prince to obtain that peace as well.
*How can trust develop that is so strong with confidence?
The princess recognized that in those trialing 9 years she and her family had begun a process. Direction and tools were given for this surely is only part of their progress. More will come and will need to build upon what has already been learned. They had made it through so much and had been consistent in reading their scriptures and praying and going to church, they knew they would continue to be helped as before.
What can a family suffering from postpartum depression gain? Yes the whole family suffered from it. Endurance, Trust in the Lord’s timing, forgiveness, patience and humility were all introduced among others.
The family learned they cannot do it alone. They were to help each other and reach out to find help from others. In turn, they wanted to help others too. They will continue to pick up additional tools in their journey to help them since they know Heavenly Father has a plan for them and he takes special care to give them each ingredient at the right time in the right way if they pay attention. The brilliance of this plan is that we need imperfect people to help us become perfect.
I know this is such a simple story and adding flowering words doesn’t change that. I just know that it is mine. If I simplify, I see how the Sermon on the Mount gradually works in my life. We started to build our foundation on a rock since we have gained some wisdom. My seminary teacher told us The Sermon on the Mount is “The Lord’s blueprint for perfection.” We can do it with the Lord’s help and guidance.
How do we hunger and thirst after righteousness, be meek, merciful, pure in heart, poor in spirit, be peacemakers, be persecuted for righteous sake? How can we be the salt of the earth, and a light of the world? Live the higher law? Fast correctly? Forgive, give good fruit? And everything else Christ talks about? There’s so much!
*I know we can with the spirit guiding us-We have to simplify and prioritize to allow ourselves the ability to hear the spirit.
*As a mom I hunger and thirst after righteousness, my every day life depends on it. Raising kids and being responsible for them is really hard. I needed the Lord’s help with every step. Being righteous means being the best parent I can be.
People keep asking me what am I going to do now that I have “nothing to do” with my kids in school next year. As I see it, I have plenty to do. Plenty of people are telling me how much I’m going to enjoy working at a job while my kids are in school. I know my answer is to simplify and for me a job is not simple. Through our financial crunch I know we will be happier with the smaller income and with me at home as a support.
I’m going to keep trying to get my home in order. I’m going to keep working to sift through the distractions and keep my priorities straight. I want to be completely available for my family and in tune with the spirit to help my children and husband. I want to be available to serve others and be thoughtful towards them.
