Like Him...

So today as I sat in our RS scripture study class, scenes from life in my home replayed through my mind. I thought of Kenna up in her room--conveniently "out of earshot". I thought of my boys when they get in the zone--you all know what I mean...video game controller in hand, standing 2 feet away from our BIG screen--nothing short of pulling the cord yanks them out of "La, la land". Some of my biggest frustrations as a mom happen when I feel like my kids aren't listening to me.
We were talking about prayer today. How do we access our Heavenly Father? What are the roadblocks that keep us from sincerely praying? One roadblock that our teacher brought up was feeling rushed...I could definitely relate. Are we really listening to hear what God wants to tell us? Do we really understand the amazing blessings He has ready to give us if we will just ask?
I realized that I am alot like my kids...sometimes I am conveniently "out of earshot"--maybe hoping to escape the responsibility that comes from knowing what God wants me to do. Sometimes I am in "the zone"--so restricted by my "to-do" lists, calendars, and expectations--that He has to "pull the cord" to wake me up and remind me that I don't have to do any of this alone...and that He has a plan for me if I will just listen.
One of my dearest friends showed me a new parenting idea--it involves a circle...and within that circle are written words like "peace, love, joy--"all of those feelings and blessings we want that God gives to the obedient. The words that were written outside of the circle were words like "distraction", "defiance"--and so on. The idea is to teach our kids that they want to stay inside of the circle--helping parents and God to be pleased with them and their choices. The idea has intrigued me. And after our class on prayer today, I thought about myself in relation to this circle--how often am I too distracted to hear my children--or to hear God? How often am I defiant against those I love most?
I see shadows of the behaviors my children choose, in my own actions toward my Heavenly Father. I feel closer to my kids right now in a way they may not understand until they are parents--and they too, come to realize that it is through parenting that we can come to know Heavenly Father in a very personal way. He knows what it feels like to have children not listen, be defiant, and turn away...better than anyone. These are the lessons in life that can make us--if we let them, more like Him.