Family Secrets

There has always been a debate about what is private in families and what is shared with extended families and what is shared with extended family and friends.

Our family has another level of privacy that goes even further, “I will tell one child and not the other”  I can share something with my sister but not my brother," or just the old line “Don’t tell Mom and Dad.”

I have been wondering why we had so many layers, and I see many possibilities, here are just a few;  I’m so embarrassed.  So and so will just call me up and add their opinion.  I want to keep it close.  I don’t need help.   I don’t need another opinion.  I can handle this on my own.

They all work with our family, and many of them are earned.  But it makes me wonder why we are part of a family if we were intended to “Handle it on my own”

I really don’t think that does much to fill the reason for us to be here on earth working out our salvation.

I have often wondered as I hear prayers in church that ask the Lord to “Bless those that can’t be with us this week that they will be able to come next week.”  Or “Bless the sick and afflicted in the ward that they will be healed and comforted”

So do we really expect God to do that or do we honestly believe that we are God’s working hands and feet, and it is up to us to comfort, and heal, and invited, and befriend those we call friends and neighbors as we are directed by the spirit.  We all know it is our responsibility to be in the Lords service, but I worry that the prayers have become just familiar repetitions that sound good in a prayer.

To be a serious follower of the Savior we all know that we are to do, not just to ask or make suggestions.

So while I understand about the reasons we have family secrets that we share with some and not all I am also convinced that the prayers and hopes of all of us are more powerful than just some of us.

 I do know there are some of us that can be judgmental, way too willing to give unsolicited help that we don’t want, and at time’s just too willing to share thing we should not.

So what’s the solution? 

I can’t speak for anyone else but for me I pledge to all of you, from this time forward,  to morn with you when you morn, to worry with you when you worry, to comfort you when you are hurt or scared.  I promise to not offer solutions when they are not asked for, and I will make every effort to let you know that I love you unconditionally.  So for me just share and I will work at gaining your trust, because shared burdens are always lighter.

Dad