Today’s’ episode of Mila Monday will be postponed. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow. (Let’s be honest, though. I will never be able to top last week’s photos. They still crack me up every time I look at them.)
Yesterday, with grandparents and uncles and cousins surrounding her, David gave our little Amelia Blythe the most perfect baby blessing. He said two things that particularly stood out in my mind. He blessed her to be a woman of faith, a woman of courage; he blessed her to have a desire to follow the good examples of the faithful members of her family.
I love the thought of my beautiful girl growing up to be a woman of faith and courage. I think of Ruth and Esther and Hannah and Mary and so many other women in the scriptures who had absolute faith in God and courage to do what He asked of them. I can’t think of better traits for Amelia to have. If she has faith, she will learn compassion, patience, and trust. If she has courage, she will learn to act in accordance with her beliefs. She will be obedient to the Lord’s commandments, and will be happy and blessed. What more could I want for my daughter?
She is blessed with so many good examples to follow, too. Great-grandparents who have made many personal sacrifices to do the Lord’s will. Grandparents who unceasingly give of their time and talents to build up His kingdom. Aunts and uncles who strive to develop a close relationship with their Heavenly Father through regular temple worship. Ancestors who trekked across the plains to “find a place which God for [them] prepared” or who sailed across the sea to obtain the freedom to “worship how where or what they may.” * She has so many family members who are worthy of emulation.
As I listened to David’s sweet blessing, I had to ask myself: Am I the kind of woman I want my daughter to grow up to become? Right now, the answer is no.
I have done things of which I am quite proud that I hope she will also do in her life. I have developed attributes that I hope she will value and try to develop in herself. But today I am not the person I ought to be. Obviously I am not perfect–nor do I expect perfection of myself–but I can do better. I should do better.
It’s easy to tell myself that we’ll start studying the scriptures as a family when she is able to read along, or that we’ll have family home evenings when she is old enough to participate. It’s even easier to tell myself that it’s ok to spend sacrament meeting chatting with the other nursing mothers instead of listening quietly to the talks broadcast through the speakers in the lounge, and that as long as I take the sacrament my Sabbath worship is sufficient. But no. I need to be doing more, and I need to be doing it now. If I wait until she is older, until she can sit through meetings, or go to nursery, or sing the songs, or say a prayer, or, or, or… It just won’t ever happen.
I need to be a woman of faith and courage, an example to my daughter, and I need to be that now.
*Jen trivia: My heritage includes not just the “good pioneer stock” that many Mormons claim, but also several ancestors who came over on the Mayflower. I’m even descended from Massasoit (the naked Indian at BYU!) which is endlessly entertaining to me. I’m as American as they come.
Loved this, Jen. And as a side note, one thing that has amazed me is how early my kids pick up on things that I think they're not old enough to understand–like a six or seven-month-old folding their arms. I always have to remind myself that the best time to initiate something that I want to have "someday" is right now.
Beautiful Jen. I had the same thoughts. I have done good and worthy things, but I can do more. Thank you.
Rachael: That is something I worry about…that I will assume she's too little to know what's going on but she'll be absorbing EVERYTHING and it will come back to bite me. Parents have to be so mindful of all they do and say.
Mom: Glad I wasn't alone in my thoughts. We can help each other improve.
I started to tear up with blessing her to be a good friend. Just like her parents, I am sure that your sweet baby will be an amazing friend to all that she comes in contact with.
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Well based on how congenial she already is (based on her blogposts), I think she's off to a good start.
Em: I love you. Know that.
Th.: She is pretty delightful (as long as she gets enough sleep). I feel very lucky.