"ity's"

Warning, proud mama post ahead:

In Relief society on Sunday, the lesson was on Bishop Burton's conference address on the "ity" virtues, you know,

Charity

Integrity

Chastity

Morality

Honesty

I sat there feeling just a little frustrated because I loved this talk and completely agree with his thoughts that it is up to us to preserve these "ity" values that are so being lost.

But in a world that places no value on them, it is so hard to instill it in our children.

Try as we might, they are still involved with many who place no value on honesty, integrity, and charity.

I just recently had a conversation with Ryan about the things our kids face. Do they have any chance at all?

He calmly pointed out the fact that our parents probably thought the same thing.

Maybe, but I still think it is much worse.

I came home from church and fed the kids lunch. It was a modge podge of leftovers and the older kids were pretty much on their own to find out what they wanted to eat. I vaguely remember Sam coming up in his snow clothes. Emma was ready for a nap, and I went into her room to rock her to sleep. As I looked out her window that is in the front of the house, I saw Sam across the street at our neighbor's shoveling snow. She is a single lady, and he saw her, when I didn't. He went to help her on his own with no prodding from me or Ryan.

I can't tell you how that made me feel. He got it. He got what I have been trying to teach all these years. I'd like to take credit, but he is just an awesome kid.

It was just a tender mercy from the Lord, letting me know that it is all worth it. Those values that we try to instill, they will shine through. There will be, on the earth, those worthy to greet him when He comes. It is our responsibility to ensure that those values do not die.

It is worth every painful family home evening, every turn off the television and read scriptures, every morning devotional, it is so worth it. If just for that one moment of seeing your child choose the better part.