It isn’t chaos because they don’t see the spilled milk, the unwashed dishes, the clothes that have not been folded for days, and the clutter all around the house. All they see is a superhero who comes to their rescue when they hurt themselves, an artist who helps them with art projects, a friend who listens to them when they feel down or feeling under the weather, a die-hard fan during school plays, soccer practices, and ballet performances, an amazing cook who ensures their tummies are full, someone who tries their best to be kind, forgiving, and patient—a mother who means everything to them.

They see you teaching them good values and showing them how to make the right choices. They see you as their safe space. They know that they can explore the world around them, make mistakes, learn, grow, and be loved all the same.

So when they say that you are the best mom in the whole world, soak it up and let it linger for a little while because they mean every single word. For them, you are enough.

It can be hard sometimes to look at the brighter side of things when you’re exhausted, and your patience is dangling by a thread but know that you are not alone in this journey of raising such valiant spirits. The Lord sees your efforts, even the ones that you think aren’t good enough, He hears your silent plea for help when you feel that all your energy has been depleted, He rejoices with you on every little milestone you have with your kids, and perhaps His hands are involved too when you finally get to spend a little time on your own to recuperate.

For Him, you are cut out to be a mother. For Him, giving your best is enough. For Him, you are enough.

There will be disappointments, frustrations, feelings of inadequacy, and heartaches along the way, but there will also be resilience, patience, strength, bravery, compassion, joy, and lots of little moments day after day, reminding you that you’ve done a good job, and that it is worth it. Don’t wish that feeling away. Pat yourself in the back because pulling it together even when it’s hard, makes you enough.

There’s no perfect recipe for motherhood. Please know that grilled sandwich or frozen pizza for dinner is okay, that late drop-offs to school sometimes happen, that it’s okay to be vulnerable with people you trust. You don’t have to have it all together all the time. It’s okay to need help, and seeking help doesn’t mean you’re incompetent, rather it shows that you’re aware that you need a support system. Know that you may not be a perfect mom, but you are enough.

If you look hard enough, you’ll realize that as your kids grow, you also grow. You’ll recognize that this journey, with its highs and lows, is a refining one, full of lessons that only motherhood can teach. You’ll recognize that the hardships of motherhood have prompted defining moments in your faith and trust in the Lord, and that rearing your kids is part of the Lord’s work “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of [His children]”. And perhaps the most important part of it is getting a glimpse of Heavenly Father’s love for us.

So breathe. Take it one day at a time. You are doing remarkable things. You are enough!

The post To All The Mothers Who Feel Inadequate: You Are Enough appeared first on morefaith.ph.

You ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way? What am I doing this for?” Sometimes you might feel like you’re stuck in a loop of exhaustion, restlessness, and not having enough time for all the things you need to do, or for yourself.

That is normal and almost all mothers feel the same way. It can be exhausting.

However, He chose YOU to nurture the world and His children here on earth. He gave you this divine role and duty to build His Kingdom.

As an expecting mom or a mom of younger babies, you can get tired of all the sleepless nights and exhausting days doing childcare and household chores, among other things. But that exhaustion just bursts into thin air when you see your baby taking his first step, or hearing him say his first word, or just seeing him smile at you. Oh, that overwhelming joy in a new mom’s heart!

As a mom of older kids, you can get exhausted from chores and making sure that they are growing into responsible people and doing good things in their life. You worry if you’ve disciplined them enough or loved them enough, or just simply if you’ve done enough. But when they hand you that ‘I love you’ note out of nowhere, or kiss and hug you, or you see them do well at school, at work, or in life, no amount of hard work or tears can tarnish the happiness that you feel. Every tear will make sense, and even your worries can turn into joy.

You are the one with the power to make the home! You probably make the delicious meals your family enjoys every day. You bear the children that add happiness to the family. You might organize the family’s schedule so everyone and everything is in order. You are the reason why that child jumps up and down with joy upon seeing you. You are the reason why they try their best to make you proud and happy. You are the reason why that child is brave enough to face their fears and be brave because you taught them to do so. You are the reason why your kids leave the house presentable, tidy, and healthy. And believe it or not, you are the reason they always want to come home!

That’s how motherhood is! This divine role from God surely involves a lot of work, pain, and countless sacrifices, but the joy and numerous lessons it brings make everything worth it.

The role of a mother can’t be defined by how many chores she can finish in a day, or how well she can cook, or whether she works or stays at home, but by how willingly she cares for her family, and how she loves them so dearly. No mother is perfect, but you don’t have to be. Christ will lead and guide you in this most important calling, and He can make up the difference for the imperfections and mistakes that we all have.

The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have taught about the importance Heavenly Father places on mothers, and the trust that He has in you, “Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”

When you understand the divinity of this role, the difficult responsibilities become lighter as you ask God for guidance and help for each child. You will understand that more than the tasks you need to finish, you are shaping God’s child into what He wants him to be. You are building God’s Kingdom and preparing His children for their divine roles in this life.

The post The Joy And Divinity of Motherhood appeared first on morefaith.ph.

I can recall vividly the pressing question people always asked me when I was four years old. “Who are you going to marry?” they would ask in amusement. “I will marry my Papa” the 4-year-old me would answer. Several years later, whenever my young, single adult peers brought up the question, “Who do you want to marry?” , I would always answer, “Someone like my Papa.”

He Showed Us What To Expect From Young Men

I love flipping through the pages of my father’s mission album, mainly because of the beautiful seascape of Guam and Palau included in the photos. My siblings and I would listen to the wonderful stories that went along with the photographs. At the age of 11 — just a year before I officially transitioned to the Young Women Organization — I boldly declared that I was going to marry a returned missionary so I could hear amazing mission stories.

But I also saw qualities in my father that extended beyond his having had a black name tag — he was kind to us, he loved us, sacrificed a lot for us, listened to us, and fiercely protected us. He loved learning and he would always share some of the amazing stories he had read in the scriptures. He taught us the meaning of service. Through his example, he taught my sister and I what to expect from the young men we interacted with, and from our future husbands.

He Loved and Continues to Love our Mother

“How can a father raise a happy, well-adjusted daughter in today’s increasingly toxic world? The most important thing a father can do for his daughter is to love her mother. You can show your daughter by the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less.”

These gentle yet powerful words from Sister Elaine S. Dalton touched my heart so much when I first heard them in the October 2011 General Conference. I thought of my father and how he always shows his love and admiration for my mother. He’s loyal to her, kind, he listens to her, he makes her laugh, and he allows her to fly and fulfill her dreams. The seemingly small expressions of love they showed each other — things like waiting for her to come home so they could have a meal together — had a great impact on a single daughter who also looked forward to the day she could meet her future spouse. Through my father’s example, I continued to build my mental list of qualities I wanted my future husband to have.

He Prepared Us

Even when I was young, my father continually reminded me that “light attracts light, virtue attracts virtue.” He would always say, “While waiting for Mr. Right, be Ms. Right. Mr. Right will just come and you’ll be prepared to meet him.” To make sure her daughters were ready for Mr. Right, he prepared us. He engaged us in conversations, he taught us the scriptures, he discussed current events with us, and he allowed us to explore our talents. One day, I saw him watching a video — a recording of a devotional for mission presidents — and he invited me to watch it. “Listen to this, my daughter. You may choose not to serve a mission, but you still need this, for someday you will help and support a future leader, and you will raise missionaries.” His confidence in us helped us build confidence in ourselves, too.

Through Him, My Husband Found Me

Yes, through him, my husband found me. Elder Garcia was then a young missionary in the Philippines, Bacolod Mission when he heard my father speak. He was impressed and he wanted to meet him. Unfortunately, time did not allow it. When he came home from his mission, he went to Facebook and searched for my dad’s name. Instead of finding him, he found me. The rest was history.

How did I know he was the one I should marry? It was because of my father. I saw in my husband the same qualities I saw in my father. He was kind, he was forgiving, he was gentle, he listens to me, makes me laugh, he serves us, and he protects us. Because of my father’s example, it was easy to say yes to my husband’s proposal.

Let’s Create More Father-Daughter Stories

Sister Elaine S. Dalton’s invitation to fathers in her October 2011 talk “Love Her Mother” is still applicable today. In this world full of noise, full of dwindling standards, our daughters need fathers who will show them what courtship, marriage, and true love truly mean. The world may set aside — and even deem worthless — the example of fathers, but remember that righteous fatherhood can greatly impact the outlook of daughters. May the fathers of our generation remain true, virtuous, loving, and kind — daughters need it.

The post How My Father Led Me to the Love of My Life appeared first on morefaith.ph.

There’s a quote for new parents that I love the most:

“Yours is the work of salvation, and therefore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are, and better than you have ever been…”

Those words from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland were playing in the background as I prepared my baby son’s morning bath. The moment was special because for the first month, my mother had been there to assist, and this was the first time I was doing things all on my own. Everything seemed to be going smoothly when all of a sudden, I heard a loud splash, and saw that the basin that held Eli’s bathing water had fallen to the floor. I grunted out a sigh, more of frustration than of shock, because another task had been added to my list and I had no one to ask for help. With a crying baby to clean, a flooded kitchen to mop, and work that needed attention, I suddenly felt too overwhelmed. For a moment, a thought came to me that I don’t have anyone to help me. Elder Holland said I would be made more than I am, but why do I feel so inadequate and helpless?

I guess every new parent asks themself, the question, “Can I really do this?” Nothing can truly prepare a man and a woman for the role of being new parents. Inside the heart of a new mama and papa is a mixture of happiness, anxiety, helplessness, excitement and worry.

When my son first came home, I spent the entire night awake. He was making weird sounds that were unfamiliar to me. A million thoughts came to mind, and every single grunt, every little squirm and little complaint drove me into new mom paranoia. At his first pediatric check up, I was already beside myself with anxiety and paranoia. My mother and husband were both very supportive, but nothing could ever take away the awful worries that consumed my heart.

In an inspired moment, my husband spoke to me about the Plan of Salvation. When he asked me about what I felt about the Lord’s plan, I said I was grateful to know that I am Heavenly Father’s daughter. Immediately, my inspired mom asked me the question “So, what does it mean for you to know that your son, Eli, is also a son of God?”

At that moment, I could feel my resolve not to cry falter. I, inadvertently, was slowly becoming a faithless mother. I’d become too easily fearful with even the slightest of problems. I’d forgotten that, like me, Eli is also a beloved son of the Lord, worthy of all the merits of His blessings and protection.

That realization has helped me counter the fear that often came to my heart. Every time I looked into my son’s eyes, I realized how special he is and how privileged I am to take care of him. In this journey with my newborn child, I can testify that I am indeed in partnership with the Lord.

Being a first-time mom to a month-old little darling can be challenging in all aspects. There are moments when his crying is matched by my own. This stage has revealed my deepest feelings of inadequacy. However, knowing that the Lord has entrusted this child to me brings so much comfort. Like what my parents always say, I am not alone in the rearing up of this child. Oh, how many times have I been encircled in His arms and reminded that my sobs don’t fall on deaf ears.

To my fellow struggling new parents, let’s put more faith in our Father in Heaven who has a plan for our little ones. To quote Elder Holland, “The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you.” He will uphold us, and He will bring us the tender mercies that we need in the exact time that we need them. Day by day, we are given the opportunity to see miracles through our children. May we always cherish this new role given to us because it is noble and essential to His plan. When the nights are long and the exhaustion and discouragement are strong, may we remember that we have the Lord who knows everything. Let us rely on Him.

When we hold our children in our arms, let us be thankful for them, our little teachers that help us have a Master’s degree in Christ-like attributes. This fresh journey of ours will be a wonderful one, despite the tears, the fears, and the inadequacies, as long as we have faith.

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