Pure Joy

There are few times in your life when you feel pure joy. Typically pure joy comes through some type of service. As it states in the scriptures, "when ye are in service of your fellow beings ye are in the service of your God." As we serve others, we are doing things for them that sometimes they cannot do for themselves. We understand our dependence on one another, but moslyt we understand how we cannot make it through this life without our Saviour. There is no other way.
Being a mother is one of the most selfless jobs on the earth. There seems to be more complaints than thank yous, more eye rolling than help, and most of all some how our children are smarter than us! I love being a mother. It was hard during the toddlers years. I put my life on hold, so I can be the mother the Lord wanted. (Trust me I am in no way saying I am a good mother, just ask my children.) Everyone has said, enjoy these years, they go by so fast, which they do! I have found the good out ways the bad, thank you starts to come more sincerely, and they realize you were the smartest mother ever (not quiet there yet with my children, but I am sure there with my parents!)
Today I had one of the most rewarding feeling ever. Jake lives in his big brother Robbie's shadow. Robbie is faster, smarter and stronger than Jake. Not a day goes by that he doesn't let Jake know this. We tell Robbie and Jake all the time, this is only because Robbie is older, the field will level out once you both are a little older. Where as Robbie is a natural athlete, Jake needs to work very a little harder. This week was football try outs. There is an A team and a B team. I don't want to get into all the million of things wrong with youth sports, but still there are two teams. As you would think the A team gets to pick all the players they want and all the other players go on the B team. This is Robbie and Jake's second year playing football. Last year we missed try outs due to a family vacation, so of course theyboth were put on the B team. Not saying they would have even made the A team if they were in town, but most of these boys have been playing together since second grade and very few boys get a chance on the A team. Neither of my boys wanted to go to try outs this year. Robbie was already on a team, since Steve is helping coach. Jake didn't want to try out, because he just figured he was already going to be on the B team so why try. I talked to Jake and told him to do his hardest no matter what! Jake is so stinkin cute! This is a boy that needed to be told not to smile while he played sports. He just loves to play! Yesterday when I picked Jake up from try outs, he told me he thought he made the A team. I said that would be good, but there aren't many spots open on the team. I didn't want him to get his hopes up, but knowing Jake he would be happy with whatever team he was put on. This morning I went to pick him up he walked over with the biggest smile I have ever seen. I rolled down the window and asked what was up and he said, Mom I made the A team. I jumped out of the car and gave him the biggest hug ever. I can't even explain the joy I had for him. I totally started crying! I honestly rather have my kids be far more successful than me. The joy is like no other. It's kind of selfish because seeing them succeed is a greater feeling than I get when I do anything good. Being a parent, you understand your Heavenly Father love for you. You began to understand how He wants you to succeed in life. He wants you to be happy. Some times things in life seem too hard, but He knows if we try our hardest, we will be happier. I love ALL my children. Not a day doesn't go by that I don't thank my Heavenly Father for all my blessings. I know all I have is a blessing from the Lord!