This lesson post is a bit unusual. Click HERE to read the lesson notes. But I will tell you below about some of the comments made during the lesson.
Marilyn's lesson was based on the article, "The Healing Balm of Hope" by Vaughn E. Worthen in the September 2013 Ensign.
Click Here to go to the article the lesson was based on from the Ensign. Or you can listen to the talk by clicking HERE.
Marilyn told us that this article jumped off the page to her. She knew she needed to talk about this topic and from the class comments I know that she was right. She shared her experience of having 3 of her 5 children rebel against the gospel. She defined hope as patience in current circumstances with faith that things will get better. She did not have that hope for a while when she struggled with her rebellious children. She spent so much time agonizing over what she had done wrong. She went to the temple often searching for peace and inspiration. I know many mothers doing the same thing--they go to the temple with the hope and promise that their children will return. Finally, one day while in the temple, Marilyn was given a sense of peace that released her burden and allowed her to move forward in her life. Her agonizing was replaced by hope. She knew miracles can happen.
Her miracle is that two of those three children have come back, slowly but surely. Everything isn't perfect. But she has HOPE. She feels like her hope can give hope to other mothers also facing this trial.
Marilyn asked us what our definition of hope is and these were some of the responses:
Jessica Jazexhiu: It is what gets you out of bed in the morning. If reality isn't what you want it to be, it can get better.
Melanie Twitty: Know that the Lord has a plan and keep the end in sight.
Amora Doxy: Trust in the Lord.
Misty Amendola: Sometimes you are in the neck of the bottle--you are being squeezed tight waiting for release. Things will get better.
Alyssa Lee talked about working with youth in a mental institution and the need she has to teach hope daily. Often we represent hope to others as we love and serve them.
There were a lot of very tender feelings shared by women also struggling with rebellious children. My take away from this was that if you struggle with this issue, YOU are NOT ALONE. Do not believe that your family is defective in a Utah sea of perfect families. Reach out. There are many women who know and understand your pain. Band together to comfort each other and give each other hope. Women talked about being embarrassed in front of other ward members. They talked of feeling like a bad parent because of the choices their children make. But these women continue to attend the temple and attend their church meetings because they are struggling to maintain hope. I love their courage and determination. I love them for sharing their feelings with us.
Read Brother Worthen's article and allow the seed of hope be planted with your faith.
