Indeed, the family is the basic unit of all of eternity.
All of us began in a family; it is our hope that we end up in a family,
and a wise Heavenly Father has put us into families in this life
to prepare us for that great possibility--and so we might have joy.
The family is still the most efficient means for producing human happiness and human goodness, as well as for preparing us for the world of immortality that is to follow.
Neal A. Maxwell
Whatever our age or stage or situation in life, we all belong to a larger social group. We belong to a father, mother and extended family, we belong to a ward family, to the human family, and always and forever to God’s eternal family.
Hence the theme for our Stake Enrichment:
A Sister for All Seasons
Whatever our season or circumstances may be, we are always and forever a sister; we are a daughter, and, whether we have children or not, a mother, a nurturer, a source of love and compassion. We have blessings and opportunities to love and be loved, to nurture and to serve, and to connect with others. In every season, we are a sister, and we have sisters.
Sometimes we might forget this, or we don’t feel it is so. We may be at home, or at work or school a lot, and feel that we are alone, or that our lives lack meaning, or we wish things were different.
I heard of a quote that someone kept on her fridge. I couldn't believe it -- it said: This is as good as it gets.
I was home with small children at the time, and I thought that was the most depressing thing I had ever heard. Is this really as good as it gets?
I’ve thought about it a lot over the years. I don’t know what it meant to that person, but I know what it has come to mean to me:
I think it means that TODAY is the stuff of which life is made,
and that we can find purpose and joy in it.
It reminds me of something one displaced woman said:
“I took the raw materials that were handed me, and I fashioned a life from it.”
Our home is the stuff, the raw materials, we have to work with—
to shape a life, to build a character, to leave a legacy.
(Those of you who have children know something of working with raw materials.)
Another sign that hangs on the fridge in my mind is from Ann Madsen:
"I have learned in my home what I know about godliness. And the theory I learn other places, if not applied at home, is useless.”
Home is the laboratory of life, the place where we learn and we teach and we practice for eternity. It is where we develop the attributes and characteristics we inherited from Heavenly Parents. It is where we have the greatest influence on others to live better than we have.
We owe it to those we love to be the best that we can be. We owe it to ourselves; we owe it to our Heavenly Father and to our Savior.
We can do that in any season of our life. As sisters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and friends, we can give the highest and the best in us, in every season.
Season is a noun, but it is also a verb; it is something we do. We can season, salt, spice up, and add flavor to the lives of those around us, as we are strong and righteous, positive and fun, kind and caring.
This is it. This is as good as it gets. This is life --with all its agonies, and there are those, and its ecstasies, --every day opportunities to live and learn and love and laugh, to serve and grow, and to be happy.
I want you to know that I know that God is our Father;
we are sisters, truly, every one.
And… it does get better! for --
Eye hath not seen nor ear heard what glorious things God hath prepared for those who love him.
He is counting on us to do our part--
to return Home to Him,
arm in arm with those we love,
and to have joy in the journey.
I pray that we will.
