Lessons From Mom

My mom rocks. 

(For any of you that know her, can I hear an Amen?!)

My mom, Julie-is the best woman in the world.  I miss her O-SO-MUCH!!  But, missing her isn't what this blog post is about.  This blog post is about a very important principle my Mom taught me.  When my siblings and I were young, she always said, "Impute the highest motive!"

I was only 7 or 8 years old.  I had NO idea what a motive was.  Let alone how to impute a high one!

However, she taught us what it meant through her Christlike example.  She explained that when someone did something that could offend you, it is easy to judge them, get angry, and become offended.  But, she taught us that this way of reacting was unkind, hurtful, and unhealthy. My mother taught us to always be kind.  Instead of judging others when they were rude or offensive, she would try to look at things from their perspective.  She taught us to do the same.

Whenever a car cut her off, or someone made a rude comment, instead of becoming angry or irritated, she would turn to us, smile and whisper, "Impute the highest motive!"  She would then come up with a silly story for that person, perhaps to explain their unkind behavior. "That poor man must be racing to the grocery store because his pregnant wife is craving pickles!  I hope he can find them on sale!"

We would giggle at the tale. As a young child, imputing the highest motive was just a game to see who could come up with the best story of why someone had been rude.

I did not understand the significance of it as a principle until I got older.

In middle school I was awkward.  AWK. WARD.  One particular day, a friend was unkind to me at school.  I remember thinking, "They must be having a rough day at school.  Maybe they failed a test!"  It then hit me-I had imputed the highest motive!  I was so excited!  It actually worked and I was not offended!

Sometimes it is easy to impute the highest motive.  Other times it is difficult.  But I know it changes my attitude and my perspective about the things that happen around me.  A friend of mine, Candace, said to me, "Everyone in this world is doing the very best with what they've got."

Isn't that the truth!  People act according to their circumstances-who are we to judge? 

So, my challenge to all y'all is this:

This week, impute the highest motive-and let me know what happens!

I know you'll see a change in the way you look at others and the way you treat others.

I'm grateful to my mom for teaching me such a valuable life skill.  She is a wonderful mother, teacher and friend.

Thanks Mom!

#17: Man's Best Friend

Number 17 on my list of manifestations of God's love is my dog. 

Brooklyn and I on Halloween of 2009

I have the BEST pooch in the world.  When I was young, I was terrified of dogs.  I would hear the jingle of a collar and instantly be petrified.  I didn't know how I was going to get over my fear. 

When I was about seven, my neighbor gave me the idea to GET a dog.  She said it would help me overcome my fear if I had a dog of my own.  GENIUS.  Buy something I was absolutely afraid of??  No way.

But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to have a dog.  Begging and pleading, I tried to convince my mother to get a dog.  She said "maybe someday."  I took that as a "no." 

In the fall of 2004, my mom began to feel prompted that our family needed a dog.  She didn't understand why, but she followed that prompting.  Right before Christmas, our family got a dog.  I named him Brooklyn.  Girly, right?  I know... in my defense, I was only 14!  But it fits him. 

He quickly became my best friend.  In high school, I loved waking up early in the summer and taking him outside on short walks.  In college I loved to come home from school to a quiet house and take a nap on the couch, with him on my lap. 

Since I've been in college, Brooklyn has faced some challenges.  Some of these include depression, anxiety, chasing a porcupine, being sprayed by a skunk (twice), and having a bizarre neck surgery.  You can imagine I was very nervous about leaving him to serve a mission.  But I knew he was in good hands and that Heavenly Father would take care of him.



Brooklyn-age 5



About a month ago, I received an email from my mom.  Brooklyn had diabetes.  I was stressed about it, but too busy to really let it sink in.  Then, last Monday I got another email from my mom.  Brooklyn was incredibly sick.  He's lost a lot of weight and is up frequently during the night.  Though my parents are watching and caring for him closely, it still makes me sad that I am not there to hold and comfort my little dog.  I pray that he will start to feel better.  If you read this-maybe you could pray for my little dog too? 

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father prompted my mom to get me a dog.  She told me once, "I knew that I needed to get you a dog.  Something told me, 'She'll need this'." 

I am grateful to a mother that can follow spiritual promptings. 

Day #14: In the Arms of Mary

Perhaps more often we should look at the mother of our Savior.  Mary was humble, virtuous and obedient.  There are few like her.  I wonder what her mother and father were like. 

As I think of Mary, I think of my own mother.  She too is humble, virtuous and obedient.  She has given up much to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  What an example she is! 

I loved being held by my mother when I was young. 

One day when I was about 10 or 11, my Mom was telling me how much she loved me.  I don't remember exactly how the conversation went, but I remember her saying that some days she wishes she could wake up, and I would be that innocent little infant again who she could cradle in her arms. 

She told me how glad she was that I was a "big kid", but that some days she missed holding me as a baby. 

I can imagine that Mary, the mother of the Christ-child, felt a similar way.  As she watched her young son teach in the temple.  I'm sure she wept greatly, wishing she could cradle her child in her arms as they crucified the Redeemer of the world-her Son, Jesus.