"The Good Part"

"and I have chosen the good part," (2 Nephi 2:30)

I read those words Sunday during my scripture study and they really struck me. It's funny how it's probably my 100th time reading the BOM, but here I am still seeing new things every time (yes, even in my awesome new scriptures I got for Christmas!).

Lehi is speaking to his son, Jacob, as kind of a last speech before he dies and those are his last words. As I pondered over those words, I wondered if, at the end of my life, I will be able to say "and I have chosen the good part."

What is the good part?

I suppose it's basically the same and yet different for each person. That's up to you to ponder and decide on your own.

As for me, I've decided that the good part includes numerous things, but number one being that I have chosen to live the gospel to the fullest. This does not mean I merely go to church on Sundays and look like I live the gospel. Rather, it means that I feel the gospel and it's part of my being and I am constantly striving to strengthen my relationship with the Savior and understand His role better in my life as well as in the lives of those around me (because until we do, we'll never realize how much we really don't understand).

For me, the good part also includes my choice to have an eternal marriage and family -- and to work hard to make sure we all make it in the end.

It all sounds grand, but here's what my "good part" includes on a daily basis:
and I wouldn't trade anything in the world for it!

One thing we have started this week is something I should have done a long time ago and that is to read a little of the BOM every night with the girlies.

Remember that scripture that talks about the children leading the way?

Monday I was reading my scriptures and London came up and asked me, "Mom, why don't we read the scriptures together as a family?" I told her that we would start that night. So I got a blue BOM out and put it on their shelf while they both made bookmarks for the occasion. Now every night before family prayer, we read a little and it has been so fabulous that I wonder why we didn't start this earlier. Even last night Nate and I were in a hurry because we were getting them to bed later than usual, but good old faithful London wouldn't let us leave until we'd read. Yes, we can learn from our children. This has become a small portion of "the good part" for my little family.

And the amazing thing is that life is great/better when we choose "the good part," so why do we sometimes balk at it? The blessing far outweigh the work. Like did you ever notice how much better you deal with life/your children when you do your scripture study everyday? It's like my magic ingredient for making the day go smoothly and works so well that I wonder why I ever miss a day (and yet, imperfect me always seems to slip a missed day in here and there).

So over the next week or so I'll be pondering what else my "good part" includes because this is just the tip of the iceberg, I am sure. . .