Family Chat: Part 2

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I always love sharing ideas with my family, because they offer perspectives I hadn't considered before. 

In response to my last post my older brother responded:

"I agree with the sentiment.

I think one reason returning missionaries find themselves falling out of habits is because most missionaries, after exercising,  eating and showering, spend 3 hours in intensive gospel and language study.

As much as you say it is possible to keep the habits you develop on your mission, it is often not possible to spend the first 4 hours of your day in this way. If you have to be at work by 8, and you have a 30 minute commute, this would mean waking up at 3:30am. Sure, possible. Also..., not required of the Lord.

After having such intense study experiences for two years, it can often feel 'cheep' to only study for 20 minutes a day, or even an hour.

I propose that this is at the core of why most people stop such habits all together.

It is not the exact same habits we need as when we were missionaries, but ADAPTED habits. And each time we have a life change (going to school, marriage, work switch, move, children) it is critical to revaluate and adapt those habits again.

But if we hold up the "Missionary routine" as the gold standard and it is implied that all else is "less then,"

Most people just give up rather than spending 30 min - 1hour in routine and still feeling like a failure."

My mother said:

"Let's be real. As a young mom or dad, even 30 minutes could be a stretch. But we have ways we can adapt. Listening to our scriptures or Conference talks, or music is one of those ways for me. And with pondering and thought we can find others."

I think my main take away is God meets us in our season of life, and sees our efforts to come closer to him! Finding what works in the season of life we are currently in, rather than wishing for where we were or where we want to be, that acceptance and invitation to the Lord to meet us where we are right now gives us strength in life right now. No need to wait for some day. God is there today and every day, every moment to support us through this journey of becoming.

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