Heart Desires

As I was kneeling at Andy's bedside in prayer a few minutes ago I was pondering my children.  Oh my goodness what a world we live in.  There is so much that can drag each of us down, so much that can hurt, so much that can draw us away from the Savior.  At the same time there is so much that is good, there is much to look forward to and rejoice in.  We have a Savior who loves us and if we are on his side in this war with sin then we can rest assured that we will win.  President Monson said, and I am paraphrasing, anyway it was something like "We are waging a war with sin but it is a war that we can and will win."  We know that and it is a source of comfort, it brings peace and fills us with hope.  A hope that no matter how hard life may seem or how difficult the challenges that are before us, if we are faithful to the Lord we can be delivered, we can return to our Heavenly Father being made perfect through the grace of Christ. 

My prayer tonight as I pondered these things included a petition to know what I can do to help each of my children have significant spiritual experiences that will help them to be firmly planted on the foundation of Christ.  Natty had come in to the LBH after school and worked on some homework, had a sandwich and talked and talked and talked.  I was going to try and sit down and eat with her but I got delayed so I sat down after she ate and had a sandwich while she told me about a variety of things.  Are there parents out there that have no worries about their children in a middle school environment?  My goodness, the things that I observe there, with that age group are concerning to say the least.  Am I doing all that I can to help Natty navigate through this time in her life?  Is she firmly fixed on the Savior when there is so much that pulls at her? 

How grateful I am that we are not left to figure this out on our own.  I am grateful for the direction we receive from a loving Heavenly Father.  I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for living Prophets and Apostles.  I am grateful in this day and age when so much is available at our fingertips, the Lord does not leave us alone.  Well, the desires of my heart are for the well being of my children.