Happy Belated Mother's Day!

I wanted to post this yesterday, but never got enough time. Yesterday morning, I was reading the Conference Issue of the Ensign in the morning before Church. Since it was Mother's Day, I thought that I'd search by topic for motherhood and see what I could find. I saw all of the Saturday and Sunday Morning sessions, but only parts of the afternoon sessions each time. I only saw Pres. Monson's talk on the Sunday afternoon session, so I'd missed Elder M. Russell Ballard's excellent talk on Motherhood. I read that on Sunday, and it was excellent.

He talks about the divine nature of Motherhood and that "there is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood." He then goes to talk about things that: 1) Mothers can do to reduce pressure and enjoy their families more 2) What a husband can do to support his wife, the mother of their children and 3) What children, even young children, can do to help their mother. With each topic he gives great counsel on understanding the role of the mother in the home and the support that she should receive from the other in the home and how our families can be blessed by following this counsel. The talk is really excellent. Two excerpts that I really enjoyed:

"Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: 'The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, capture only in photographs. . . . I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.'"

"Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh and play together."

"[S]how extra appreciation and give more validation for what your wife does every day. Notice things and say thank you--often. Schedule some evenings together, just for the two of you."

"[H]ave regular time to talk with your wife about each child's needs and what you can do to help."

The talk is really excellent and you can find the full text of the talk at the links below.

Daugthers of God
Elder M. Russell Ballard
April 2008 General Conference, Sunday Afternoon Session
Text  Audio  Video

So I hope all you mothers out there had a great Mother's day. You deserve it. I know that Tara and I are always grateful for our mothers, and I'm extremely grateful for the mother that Tara is.

Mark