Beaming Shaylie. Cheerful Faithy. Elder Truman Jessee.
These are our little eaglets -- Eagles in training. Aren't they precious! The world desperately needs valiant, well-prepared souls to effectively fight the battles of life. Like Pres. Hinckley said once, "Don't muff it!" With the Lord's help I'll do my best to support these little ones and their parents in seeing that they are "firm and undaunted" (Alma 57:19). I hope to see them dwell in the glorious joy of those who keep the commandments with "exactness."
These little ones have to be warned, helped, guided, and protected with fierceness. The spirit of the eagle will allow for nothing less. These precious little souls have been reserved to come forth in these tumultuous last days for very specific reasons, among them due to the fact that they were incredibly valiant in the premortal existence. Billions of people have come and gone on this earth and here comes Shaylie, Faith, and Truman. Why them and why now? Hang around with them for a while and you'll see!
These little ones have to avoid the pitfalls, sins and stupidities of my and your generation. They must! For sure, it costs a lot in time, effort, and money to raise an eagle. It's not convenient to teach and train these little ones. "Sacrifice" means that you go without sleep and forgo many pleasures of life. However, the time, effort, and patience devoted to these little ones will yield incredible joys. The "return on investment" is unquestionably the best that can be had in this life. Moreover, that joy will continue on into the eternities.
The sobering thing is that we have only ONE chance to raise these precious little ones. There is a BIG difference between age 1 and 2; there's a BIG difference between age 5 and 6; a BIG difference between 12 and 13; and so on. You have to plant lots of seeds of the fruits of righteous living continually. These young ones are sharp, perceptive, impressionable, and VERY sensitive. As the twig is bent, so the tree grows.
Here's Paul the Eagle Scout in July 2007.
3 comments:
I agree daddo! kinda overwhelms me sometimes with the responsibility I have to teach our kiddos. I have to constantly be learning myself in order to teach them!
Wow, you know, I think sometimes it's easy to forget we're raising eagles when they're throwing tantrums and pulling each other's hair, including mine, throwing broccoli on the floor and puking on me in the middle of the night. Your so right about the sacrifice and it's nice to have that great picture of Paul to remind me of what that sacrifice brings. I'm so very much in the thick of it with my four little kiddo's and I feel so overwhelmed about the responsibility I've been given and feel lacking more times than not, but I have faith that the Lord will guide me with my little eagles...thank you for your thoughts, Lyle!
I totally agree with Jenny! Some days i wonder why i do the things i do for my kids and when will they learn, but it is those moments when you need the boost and your little one says that they love jesus! you know they are listening and man do they have it hard!!! we should be proud that heavenly father has intrusted us with the LATTER DAY EAGLES !thanks for the inspiration!
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