I have been pondering a lot lately about the word influence. Working with the young women I am constantly reminded that people have their agency and will become the sum of their choices. As the hymn says, "God will force no man to heaven." I KNOW when it comes to my own kids I'm going to wish I was the little angel always on their shoulder telling them what to do and say to stay safe from temptation and danger. Darn that agency (haha)!
I know my wish to control is not the plan I fought for in the pre-mortal life. But freedom... freedom to choose... what a scary thing! Especially with how explicit the world is today! And I don't only mean the TV and internet, I'm talking about 7th grade class rooms... The obscenities I hear from the junior high across the street! I am even embarrassed to repeat them to my own husband! The worst kind of filth that exists in the world, and our children will be encountering it at such a young age.
Really? Are we sure we like the idea of agency?? Sometimes I get frustrated with how little control I have over the environment of my girls. I think "all I can do is teach them the right on Sunday and the rest is up to them, if they fall it's not my fault." Knowing that attitude is completely stupid, that leads me to the question, "What is my responsibility? And the simple answer is Influence.
I have a feeling that discovering what that word really means and how to use it's power for good is one of the most important things we can do in this life. It will change our marriages, our children, and all others we have been given the responsibility to help.
But what does it mean to influence someone? Sometimes I feel like I'm being to pushy or preachy or nosey. Hmm.... Persuade with love... to call to repentance without offending... to live the plan of happiness so perfectly that others are convinced of it's truthfulness... This is a gift we all must develop. The darkness is thickening, it's nearly suffocating some of our youth. Our kids must be pretty amazing to be sent to the world during a time such as this. We have SO MUCH to prepare them for!
Okay, I'll stop now. It's been on my mind and it feels good to get off my chest.
I will admit, I have struggled with this concept a lot while being in Young Women’s, and it translated into my worrying a lot about my own kids and what they will face. Of all the other things I learned from being with Young Women, this was one of concepts that really hit home for me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about agency and the role it has played in my life and the lives of those around me, I have realized that we, as mothers and leaders in our communities, have something the world CAN NOT offer: LOVE. It seems so simple, and maybe naive, but I have felt it work in my life, in my husband’s life, and in the Young Women I used to serve. Love is such a powerful thing! And when it is felt by those who are struggling, they get a glimpse of Heavenly Father and His love for them as well. And when they feel that, they feel important enough to choose the right! They feel like they matter, and that they are worth saving. LOVE changes lives and changes people, and it's something Satan can only try to imitate.
I think that’s why I loved what Liz had to say at our last girl’s night about being loving mothers. The more we can show and express LOVE to our kids, the more likely they will feel worth it to choose the right.
Thanks so much for this post Em. We were asked to speak this sunday, and the topic we were given is unique - To rescue somebody. As I have pondered about this topic I've asked myself - "but what if they don't seem to want to be rescued?" And that is where your and Sar's comments come into play. Influence with love. Sometimes we may not know we are walking down a dangerous road until we feel the powerful correcting love of our Savior calling us in a different direction. I think I have an angle for my talk - thanks you guys. I love this blog thing.
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