Asking the Right Questions

Last year, sometime in May, I happened upon a book that had a profound influence on my life. It was called A Mother's Book of Secrets by Linda and Shawni Eyre. It seemed to change the way I looked a motherhood and gave me the courage to pursue the type of family that I had always dreamed about. It gave me vision and has led to many other learning opportunities, one being mentioned in my previous post.

Well I think I've happened upon another book that I have a feeling is going to do the same thing in my life. It's called Change Your Questions Change Your Life, written by Wendy Watson Nelson, current wife to Elder Russell M. Nelson. It's a beautiful book and as I skimmed it's pages in the store, I felt I really needed this book.
It talks about asking ourselves the right questions and getting rid of the negative ones. Within a few days and reading only a few pages, I could tell a difference in my life already. At one point during the day I caught myself asking, "if I were to write a list of all the things that drove me crazy, what would they be?" I was surprised at myself and thought better of it. I discarded that question and didn't allow my mind to go there. That was not a positive question to be asking myself. At one point in the book, it has the reader read Alma 5, which is full of questions, and then jot down your favorite ones. One that particularly stuck out to me was "do you see Christ image in your countenance?" It's been on my mind lately and as I mother my children day in and day out, I'm starting to think my kids see the devil instead. My heart's desires are righteous and I don't think others think I'm the devil, but man, my children seem to bring out the worst of me. They put all my weaknesses right in front of my face. I feel like a barking dog all day, trying to get the kids to listen and be obedient. I hit a turning point at lunch today.

Sophia wouldn't eat her lunch and after an hour of time outs, nagging, and pleading, I sent her to bed without eating. As I'm sweeping the floor, I started to think, "how would Christ deal with preschoolers all day?" "how would He get the three year old to eat?" I know some of these answers, but then realize I'm severely lacking in the patience department. Miguel came home from priesthood session and told me that Pres. Uchdorf said that impatience is a symptom of selfishness. Well he's probably right. I get so impatient, because I don't want to spend my precious time hand feeding my three year old. I get impatient for my kids to take a nap, because I'm dying for some alone time.

One thing I know for sure...at least I'm asking the right kind of questions now. This is an eternal quest. To become more like my Savior each day. And hopefully, little by little, my children will be able to feel of Christ's love for them through me and be able to see him in my countenance more and more each day.

It's great to see the workings of this book and the words of our church leaders in my life. For that I am ever grateful.