One reason why I would ever want my children to serve missions

This Christmas I get to receive an incredible gift. Our daughter is coming home from having served a mission in the England, Birmingham mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the past 18 months (read about her adventures here). I am so excited to receive her smiling, happy face into my arms- I can hardly contain myself.

I also have been able to give a gift. One of our sons is serving a mission in the Argentina, Buenos Aires South mission. As I write this he has been gone for almost 3 months (you can read about his adventures here). He will be gone until September 2017. I will be able to see his face and chat with him through skype on Christmas Day, but that is the only voice contact we have until Mother's Day when I will get to talk/chat via skype again. For the past little while I have had both of these children out on missions. To be totally honest, I have really missed them immensely. I wouldn't want my children to be anywhere else even though I feel like I have a hole in my heart when I think about them too much. So, I choose to focus on the why I would ever want my children to serve missions.

This Christmas I realize even more why I am willing to do this. I love my family more than anything and I want to be with them forever. I know that families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan and I want other families to have this same gift of an eternal family. Because of this joy of eternal families, I am willing to send my children to foreign countries to share this "good news" (see Bible Dictionary: Gospels), even "glad tidings of great joy" (Helaman 16:14). It was proclaimed by an angel, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10). These "glad tidings of great joy" are for all to hear and all to receive, not just for my family.

Heavenly Father's plan is to bring home all of His children who desire to come back and live with Him through faith and repentance in His Gift to all of us, His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the Gift we get to receive! Heavenly Father was willing to give His Beloved Son (see Moses 4:2, Mark 1:11, JS-H 1:17) so that we may all live with Him again. That is an incredible gift to give...your child so that others may also receive gifts- even the gift of an eternal family.

This is the reason why I am willing to give my daughter and my son to others of God's children for 18 or 24 months...that they too may receive the Greatest Gift. 

(Enjoy this short video: He is the Gift)

"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33)

I have become very aware of the fact that most of my days have a similar ring or flare to them. I do scripture study, I exercise, I help my family, laundry always piles up. I make dinner and pretty much I do these same activities every day. So when someone asks how are things going or what's new, I think, nothings new and everyday is pretty much the same. I do like it when things are calm and life is pretty predictable. I like that I can count on only having to deal with small bumps in the road during the day (most of the time, so that when the big bumps come I am more prepared). But sometimes I think that I am hardly doing anything and when I had that thought today this scripture came clearly to my mind and truly touched my heart: "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33). Even though I didn't do anything different or out of the ordinary I realized that I am doing good. And that's great!

When we feel like our days are the same and we aren't making any difference, remember, it is out of the small things that great things happen (see Alma 37:6). When the laundry keeps piling up (and it does) and the dinners might seem like the same old recipes (and they are) and the time driving our children here and there and everywhere seems to take up all our "spare" time (and it does) remember that we are "well-doing" and we are "laying the foundation of a great work". God's children, our families, and our relationships that span the eternities is the great work! God wants us to be together forever. When we take the time to fold clothes with our children and listen to them, gather together for dinner and share about our day, or listen in the car about what they are interested in or perhaps frustrated with, we are laying the foundation of a great work, even the great work of an eternal family. As Paul said to the Galatians, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal. 6:9).

Today was pretty similar to all my other days. And you know what? It was a day of great work and I am so grateful I got to spend my time "in well-doing". Keep up the great work! You're doing amazing things. This I testify.

I got to hang out while my son put together...well-doing.

Putting on the rain cover

Hammock hung and son inside...great work!