I recently became part of a discussion regarding a woman and her current circumstances. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, followed by her brother. She left, followed by him as well. When she came back, he didn't. They live polar lives now. While she is home with young children, battling the real pain that comes with letting a house sit without repairs so the children can be clothed and fed, he lives a temporally beautiful life. Most of us mom's understand that raising the children always overcomes the temporal things we miss out on, but it still hurts, gosh darnit. You can bet she's struggled with the added weight she's gained in giving her life over to child bearing and then child rearing and homeschooling, which I believe is where a lot of that weight comes from! Lol...personal experiences here! In her insecurities regarding her desire to be an example of something he will want to come back to, her fear of the unappealing life is setting in as a visit with him approaches. This is my first thought for this woman I do not know, but whom I pray for :
"Outward beauties always fade..... Bodies get bigger, disease sets in for even the most fit and beautiful of us all, dust settles, moth corrupts, teeth break (my unfortunate life, lol), cars wreck, clothes get holes, and homes settle and ruin. If I were you I would stop thinking about impressing him and luring him into this life that is so hard, but truly brings so many rewards. The times when I have thought about how embarrassed I am to be with my family...because I've gained 60 pounds since they saw jme, my children's clothes barely fit, and my home is no more than a small box....I find myself miserable and portraying the life I don't live. When I let go and smile my truest smile, stand straight and confident, interact with my children as I do on an every day basis, and draw my family towards me with pure warmth and love--they stand in admiration. Even if he (your brother) doesn't see it now, he will one day see it once one or more of the above sorrows stirs his faith in the worth of the world. The world is a foundation we can never really rely on, everyone must face that eventually. I'm certain he is an amazing man to have joined the church to begin with, he will "see" again someday.
Just love him. The Lord used me and my family as an instrument to draw my young sister into the church after I joined many years earlier. All my sister's joined very quickly after I entered the waters of baptism, but my last sister jumped in after my infant son suddenly passed away...she was the last person in my family to hold him and enjoy his perfection. God is in control --we just need to live in the light we love and trust....but let us truly trust it and dispel fear. Love to you and your brother."
Do you find yourself struggling to make ends meet? Never vacationing, battling health ailments because you give so much, repurposing furniture over and over for the next need, and crying out to God for your next daily sustaining meal?
You're not alone, carry on. You are building eternal worth.
Love from a tired, BLESSED Mommy --
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