Following the Pattern

Believe.

Love.

Do.

It's a beautifully simple pattern for discipleship, and for reaching out to others ads well (as was recently taught by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf).

Our family chalkboard had been blank for a few days, so I decided to put up this reminder of how simple it is to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I even snapped a quick picture... and it turns out that I was glad I did...

Immediately after I wrote these words, my kiddos thought about them, internalized them, and began showing Christlike love and compassion for each other.....

Hahahahaha! I wish! (Did you really believe that??)

In actuality? They started arguing within minutes. (Not because of my chalkboard art... although I was tempted to think so as their timing was impeccable!)

After quite a lengthy squabble with many warnings and  no foreseeable resolution, I sent them to their rooms for some quiet time. My son was not too happy about this decision, and when the time for his release came, he was still pretty pouty. So pouty that in his agitation he decided to erase the words I had written from the chalkboard... At least the ones he could reach. ha!

I asked him if he knew what had happened to the chalkboard. First he denied his participation. Next, he blamed it on other siblings whose heights did not match the crime. Seeing no way out, he finally fessed up, but was obviously ashamed. I sent him to brush his teeth and asked him to think about this choices while he was brushing.

 A few minutes later, our chalkboard looked like this...

I love it.

And I mean LOVE it.

In fact, I love it even more than my own.

I love it because he tried so hard to follow the pattern that I set, even though it was difficult for him. I love it because it is a manifestation of his sincere remorse and earnest desire to make things right. I love it because, despite the fact that he had made some mistakes, he offered me his very best. I love it because it came from him, and I am just so grateful that he loves me enough to try. (And I told him so!)

After cherishing this beautiful art for a couple of days, I realized that I also love it because it reminds me of how much my Savior loves me.

I am striving to follow the perfect pattern my Savior has set for me, but so often (so very often) my version just doesn't measure up. My version sometimes looks crooked and blotchy. There is evidence of past mistakes and sometimes it might even be hard to decipher what exactly I'm trying to do. But deep down I know that He loves it, and I know because He tells me so. The feelings I receive in my heart as I use the Atonement in my life tell me that even though I stumble, even though I am still working on getting it right, He is grateful that I love Him enough to try. He loves my sincere efforts and He loves me.

So this is my application of that quote from Elder Uchtdorf:
 
Believe (in Him)
Love (Him enough to try)
Do (my best to follow His pattern)

What a beautiful pattern. What a beautiful reminder that I don't have to be perfect, I just have to love Him enough to keep trying. I am so grateful for my Savior's patience with me and his acceptance of my imperfect offerings. What a blessing it is to have the love of Christ in my life!


Deficits: I am not perfect!
Deposits: I know that my Savior loves me!!
Balance: So Richly Blessed!