Walking In the Light
As I took the sacrament Sunday and contemplated on the Savior and my blessings, a thought went through my head that left me glowing. I can think of only one other that could possibly transcend the thought that hit me then. The thought was—"Your children are all walking in the light."
I knew that on that day all of my children, their spouses and my grandchildren would be in church taking the sacrament as I was doing, renewing their covenants, and presenting themselves before the Lord to be taught and to feel the Spirit.
This was a thought that came through the Spirit, which is what made it especially warming. In this dark and evil world, it is an astounding thing that all 51 members of this common, ordinary Church family can be found on the straight and narrow path, holding to the rod, and pressing their way toward the tree of life, purity and happiness, the Savior, and the Celestial Kingdom. It's almost an overwhelming thought: "Your children are all walking in the light." It makes me weak with gratitude.
How can that be, and why do I merit such a blessing? Imperfect me, who in thought and action has violated so many of my Father's kind instructions and directions that were given for the sole purpose of making me happy. Why didn't He give up on me? Why didn't my repeated violations of His code of conduct result in my destroying my life and the lives of those who are so dear to me? It could have been so.
The only answer that I can find to those questions is that my Father loves me. He knows me, and blesses me because I keep trying. I'm grateful that He has so mercifully granted me 61 years on this earth—61 years to make course corrections. I'm a slow learner. It has taken me this long to get things figured out. A big light came on in my life 42 years ago that put me on the straight and narrow path. I've tried to keep my eyes riveted on that light since then, but I've continually muddied my feet by stepping off the path. I'm getting nearer my goal, I'm muddying my feet less, and I'm aware that I'm leading a long line of loved ones toward that same light. It's a heavy responsibility because I know that the feet behind me are probably getting muddied in the same places where I've muddied mine.
My constant prayer through all these years has been that I'll reach the goal, and that all of those behind me will keep hold of the hand of the person in front of him so that no one will be lost in the darkness and the mire of the world.
"Your children are all walking in the light."
I can think of just one sentence that could transcend the hearing of that one. That is to hear, "Thy sins are forgiven thee."
That all my children may hear both things said to them is my prayer.