I consider the family the reason for our being and
should be the very center of our existence both as belonging and
responsibility. The Proclamation on the family tells us how the family
is to be constituted and indicates it's importance and eternal
nature.
The Savior's mission was to do the will of His Father
and He constantly prayed unto him in all things that he did. He loved
and blessed the little children and always indicated their importance
and example. He also used examples of the fowls of the air to teach us
how to live our lives. He indicated especially that they were
dependant on the Father for their living. Let us consider the fowls of
the air and how they live and raise their families.
As I walked out this morning, the mocking bird was
singing his heart out and with great enthusiasm would go straight into
the air a few feet and come down again to his high perch without
missing a note of his varied song. I am sure he was so exultant
because of his great accomplishment of raising two batches of chicks
this summer so far. One in the forsythia bush and the other in the
center of the big bushy climbing rose near the pool.
While his Sweetheart was on the nest incubating their
four eggs he was near by proclaiming to the world that he was starting
a family and he was there to protect and support them with his song
and with his very life. No enemy was too great or too fierce that he
would not attack and drive them away. He would dive bomb even any cat
that might come near and drive the cat away at the peril of his own
life. He sang all day and even during the moonlight nights barely
taking enough time to take a few morsels of food to keep him
going.
Soon his song became limited to the early morning and
late in the evening because he and his mate were working through the
day carrying bits of fruit and small insects to their four tiny fuzzy
chicks. As soon as they dropped their offering into the gaping beaks
of those hungry little ones they would be off in search of another
load. One or the other was always near keeping a watchful eye on their
precious family. As the evening cooled the mother would settle on the
nest covering the chicks with her warm body and feathers keeping them
snug and warm during the night.
I observed that both parents were very selective in
what they fed to their family just the ripest fruit and the softest
parts of the insects. No junk food for them just because it was easier
to get. Soon the chicks began to grow on their feathers and the nest
began to be crowded and the mother could no longer cover all of the
chicks at the same time but none of them were neglected and all grew
accordingly. When it came time to leave the nest the parents were on
hand to guard each one into a new hiding place where they could
receive their food between practice flights. Each was urged to fly and
were accompanied by their parent to watch over them and support them
in their effort. This was a busy time of teaching not only to fly but
how to find food and what was good to eat and where to look for
it.
I marveled at the dedication of the parents in their
watchful teaching and careful training. Even after each chick could
fly very well and find food for himself the parents were there ever
watchful and supportive. Not long after the chicks were on their own
and doing well it was time for another nest and the process began all
over again.
I have seen how the blackbirds even after the chick was
as big as the mother follow her around fluttering their wings and
chirping pitifully for food. The mother would simply ignore the fuss
and soon the big chick would have to fly off by himself to find his
own food.
Consider the dedication of the Mocking Birds how they
are dedicated to their family and how their family is the center of
their lives. They nurture feed and train them until they are ready to
live on their own then they let them go and go on about their own
lives. The Blackbird had to force the lingering chick to fend for
himself when she considered that he was ready.
In our families each situation is different and each
child is different but the process and the dedication is the same. We
love and nurture them. We teach and train them and must let them go on
their own when they are ready. However I would not eliminate the role
of grandparents as the birds do.
Where the difference lies is in the teaching and
training which must begin when our children are very young. We can
accomplish this important part by living the gospel of Jesus Christ
letting our children absorb it from the time that they are born. We
must follow the example of the Savior and Pray to the father and do
his will in all things. Then we will receive His help in our teaching
and training of ourselves and our children. We are here on earth to
gain earthly experience and to have joy and rejoicing in our
posterity. The Lord has given us instructions on what we should do for
our children and has left the details on how to do it up to us. It is
said that those that tell you how to raise your children are those
that have never had any children of their own.
We must ever be busy making a living and doing the work
of the church and fulfilling our callings. We even need recreation but
in spite of all of this our families should never be neglected or left
unprotected. They should be the center of our lives and come first in
all things
Parents we should not let the business of caring for
the children and earning a living be more important than being in
harmony and love with our spouse. The children will soon be gone and
leave the father and the mother to go on with their lives together.
They started out just the two of them and again they will be left just
the two of them together for eternity united in the love that the
experiences of their lives has caused to grow and increase. With each
child and experience their capacity to love increases and never stops
growing. The greatest thing that a man can do for his children is to
love their mother. This legacy is passed on from generation to
generation but it needs to be true unselfish love including the love
of God and his teachings.
Love Mom and Dad Bowman.
These are some thoughts I had on the family. I will not
be hurt if you do not choose to use them but they might stir some
thoughts of your own.