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Celebrating
the Continuation of Life
By Darla Isackson
A kind sister named Brenda began e-mailing
after my son died. She had suffered a similar tragedy and we shared
the pain that Mother's Day can bring in the aftermath of such situations.
Last Mother's Day I received an e-mail
from her that gave me a new perspective. She said, “I'm adjusting
my thoughts about Mother's Day, the dreaded day of the year to a
host of mothers: Mother's Day is a day to celebrate the continuation
of life! Are you familiar with the saying 'A baby is God's
sign that the world should go on?' I am celebrating the birth of
our 10th grandchild and will celebrate our 11th in July.”
My 7th grandchild is four months old
— and such a beautiful reminder of God's continuing vote that,
regardless of its trials, mortal life is precious and that more
of His children still need to experience it. To all mothers who
may be hurting I would suggest changing the focus on Mother's Day
next year to the celebration of the continuation life.
The Beautiful Example of a
Bird Mother
After a dreadful forest fire ravaged
Yellowstone National Park a few years ago I read a story (I don't
remember where) that impressed me. I will try to reconstruct it.
After the fire, the forest rangers
were attempting to assess the extent of the fire's damage. One ranger
found a strange thing: on the ground at the base of a huge charred
tree, was a bird petrified in ashes. Why hadn't the bird flown to
safety? Why would a bird sit on the ground and not flee the blazing
fire? Curiously, he poked at the ashen bird with a stick, and three
little chicks who had been kept safe from the fire by their dead
mother's wings scurried out.
The mother, who could have flown to
safety, had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her
wings would live. What a vote for the continuation of life, and
what an analogy of the Savior's love! "He will cover you with
his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge" (Psalm
91:4). The Savior died that we might live, and only a mother's love
comes close to His.
Choosing to Be the Carriers
of Life
Recently I saw my daughter-in-law bravely
choose another high-risk pregnancy, risk her life, and go down into
the shadows of the valley of death, that another baby might be born.
And she has never regretted her choice for a moment, but rejoices
in the beauty of her new baby girl. The continuation of life is
a reason for continual rejoicing.
Is there anything that brings more
awe, more wonder, more tears of joy than the plaintive cry of a
newborn baby? Can anyone cradling a beautiful newborn remain a cynic?
The dark side of life is eclipsed by the sun-bright wonder of new
life — and mothers carry the lighted torch.
It has always required faith and fortitude
to choose motherhood. However, in most of the history of the world
that choice was the norm, something women were simply expected to
do. That is no longer the case, and many “modern-thinking”
women choose to remain childless.
I honor young mothers today who choose
motherhood with their eyes wide open. It is not easy to open the
door to pregnancy knowing the risks. So many young mothers have
a difficult time all through their pregnancy, and the epidemic of
premature births increases the likelihood that the baby's life can
be at risk as well. Yet so many young women — in the Church
and out of it — choose to become mothers multiple times.
I honor my daughter-in-law for her
for her unselfish devotion. Her pregnancies have been increasingly
difficult, and all but the first baby have been premature. But her
love for children has prevailed, and she has brought six beautiful
children into the world. Even more worthy of commendation: she is
devoting her full time and effort to nurturing them.
Love Can Make So Much Difference
Being loved so much that a mother is
willing to put her life at risk should make a difference in my grandchildren's
lives. Being loved so much that the Redeemer was willing to die
for us should make a difference in ours. We can choose to remember
the One who loves us each day, be different because of it, and pass
that kind of love on to our children.
President Joseph Fielding Smith saidm
"A true mother's love is the closest thing to God's love that
you'll ever find on this earth." No mother has control over
the response of her children to her love. No mother can determine
the outcomes in her offspring's life. But have control over our
own decision to keep loving them no matter what. And we do have
control over our response to the Lord's love for us.
Throughout the coming year, may God
bless all you wonderful mothers who give so much out of your deep
love for your children and fellow beings. Though you may not be
aware of the difference you are making, your love lights up the
world and that kind of love is most likely to open the windows of
your children's hearts to the love of the Savior.
© 2007 Meridian Magazine.
All Rights Reserved
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