a seed is a seed

It's 2 am and I'm a scattered, hot-mess.

When I think of a seed I immediately think of a flower.  Eventually this flower will be beautiful, fragrant, and bring joy to onlooker, as it receives the proper nourishment, sunshine and water. Flowers can evoke emotions, and return memories.

Unfortunately, weeds and thistles are also spread by seeds. Sometimes it only takes a flash of sunlight for the seed to be nourished. Sometimes the wind spreads the seeds, like is the case with the dandelion.

In our house we have experienced both kinds of seeds. We have had the seeds we hope and pray will take root and one day grow to flourish- that we might look on with pride and amazement. And we have also had the seeds we hope don't see the light of day- that we pray have no staying power in our family. That we pluck out of our family tree.

Today in our scriptures we chose to read out of The Book of Mormon, in Helaman 2 and 6. These chapters talk about Gadianton, Kishkumen and their band of robbers and murderers. Read here and here. There are about 24-26 years between these chapters. There was peace for 24 years, before contention was reintroduced into their society and before the gravy hit the fan.

Satan is patient. All he has is time, and all he wants is to distract you enough to get you to hold loosely to the Iron Rod; To feel comfortable letting go from time to time- because you know where it is, you could grab back on at any moment, right?

Someone once told me that in the gospel you are either moving towards Christ or you are slipping towards Satan. There is no stagnation. You're always in motion and you get to choose which direction you're headed. I want to be headed towards Christ. I want to be supportive of my husband in his work, calling and as leader of our household. I want to nurture my children and see them through the Father's eyes. I want to celebrate their successes and help them correct their wrong doings. I want to live up to my potential outlined in my Patriarchal Blessing. I want to magnify whatever callings I might have throughout my life, and serve with a full and dedicated heart. I want the flowers to bloom and the weeds to wither.

One of my favorite scriptures is found in 1Nephi 15 Verse 27

"And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water."

I don't want to be so naïve as to think their isn't filth around me each and everyday. I want to be so in love with the good, so engulfed in good works, so optimistic, full of faith and hope, that I can't give Satan the time of day.

I pray that my family will flourish.