While there, we frequently rode around the national park on the bus system they provide to help us get from one site to another. At one point, Geoff boarded a waiting bus with a total of 6 children - all 4 of ours and 2 of the Ruiz kids. The kids were being loud and rowdy and were having a grand time. I boarded the bus a few minutes later and as I got on, I noticed only 1 other family on the bus. A husband, a wife, and a teenage son. She must not have realized I was joining Geoff and kids because as I walked by, I saw her lean over to her husband and heard her whisper to him, "Those kids are brats!" She sounded pretty disgusted with their behavior.
I just walked by and pretended not to hear, but immediately my gut feelings took over and I felt defensive. As I sat next to Geoff I stewed and let my thoughts go crazy on all the mean things I'd say to her and her family if I had the courage to really get up and say them! Who did she think she was, anyway? And why did she think she was justified in being such a judgmental jerk? I stewed for quite a while.
Fast forward a few days to when we returned back home and life was back to our normal routine. As I was getting ready for the day, I listened to a Conference Talk given by Neill F. Marriot, entitled "What Shall We Do?" that has just been delivered at the April, 2016 conference. She told the following story about receiving an anonymous phone call:
The caller asked, “Are you Neill Marriott, the mother of a big family?”
I answered happily, “Yes!” expecting to hear her say something like, “Well, that’s good!”
But no! I’ll never forget her reply as her voice crackled over the phone: “I am highly offended that you would bring children onto this overcrowded planet!”
“Oh,” I sputtered, “I see how you feel.”
She snapped, “No—you don’t!”
I then whimpered, “Well, maybe I don’t.”
She started on a rant about my foolish choice to be a mother. As she went on, I began to pray for help, and a gentle thought came to mind: “What would the Lord say to her?” I then felt I was standing on solid ground and gained courage at the thought of Jesus Christ.
I replied, “I am glad to be a mother, and I promise you I will do everything in my power to nurture my children in such a way that they will make the world a better place.”
She replied, “Well, I hope you do!” and hung up.
Immediately after hearing that story, my thoughts were turned to that time on the Grand Canyon bus where a woman had said something offensive about my family. And immediately, I realized that Heavenly Father had just taught me a very specific lesson that was just for me.
When faced with an awkward and offensive situation, this wonderful example, Sister Marriott, had a Christ-like instict and prayed for help. She immediately turned to the Lord and was blessed because of it. She left her situation feeling peace and feeling great about defending the family in a Christ-like way.
I, on the other hand, had also been faced with an awkward and offensive situation and had reacted in a completely opposite way. I did not instinctively turn to Christ like thoughts and I did not pray for help. Instead I let a defensive, offended heart take hold of my thoughts. I had terrible and mean thoughts and tried to make myself feel better by mimicking the same rude behavior she had shown to me. I did not feel peace after the situation was over, but felt frustration for quite some time.
What a humbling lesson. I have realized that I need to turn away from these "natural man" reactions that I so often exemplify. Alternatively, I need to learn to pray for help first thing. I need to rely on Christ and the Holy Ghost for the right words to say and think. I would love to feel peace and assurance after situations like this, not frustration and regret. But how?
Well, I'm not so sure I know that answer to that. But I do know one thing: Heavenly Father gave me this lesson for a reason. So in my search for the answer, I'll put in to place the very lesson that I've just learned - I'll pray for help.
No comments:
Post a Comment