“You’ll love it when you can have a conversation with him!”

“Once she starts eating solids, things will be easier.”

“It will be nice when they aren’t all in car seats anymore!”

“Someday they’ll sleep in all day long and you’ll be the one waking them up!”

Motherhood sure bombards you with a lot of comments that embody the idea of “just you wait”.

Waiting for things to get easier.

Other times it’s waiting for things to get harder.

But it’s about something in the future.

I’m waiting for things to get easier.

And I’m waiting for things to get more difficult.

“Just wait til they are a teenager…”

I had a wise friend help me see how damaging all of that thinking can be.

She told me that there’s a little bit hard and a little bit easy about every stage of life and that she plans to enjoy it all.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose”. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

This is the time of my life where I can’t leave the house for more than 3 hours without having previously pumped milk for my baby.

And this is the time of my life where I get to cuddle the three cutest kids as much as I want.

This is the time of my life where I turn down speaking engagements that require me to travel long distances.

And this is the time of my life where I get to write about the scriptures on my phone while my kids sleep.

This is the time of my life where I can’t serve or volunteer for everything that comes my way.

And this is the time of my life where I get to teach my kids how to pray and laugh at the things they decide to include.

“Life isn’t just to ‘live through.’ We are to experience each moment, enjoy it, and learn from it.” Marty Halversen

Life is always a little bit easy and a little bit hard.

And I’m learning to embrace it all.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Times and seasons first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The group of missionaries, with Joseph at the helm, had finished their short stay in Missouri and were ready to go back home to Ohio.

The men had been told it didn’t matter how they traveled, so they figured the easiest way would be to secure some canoes, and float down the river.

And that’s what they did.

Focused on the best way to get home.

Gliding down the river to their destination.

The journey started to get a little treacherous, so they pulled their canoes off to the side for a while.

And this is where Joseph received a revelation, reprimanding this group:

“It is not needful for this whole company of mine elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief.” D&C 61:3

In other words:

Why are you gliding down the river in canoes, when you are surrounded by people who need your help?!

Why are you choosing to take the easy way home?

There are people all around you who would benefit from receiving your service, or hearing you share your testimony.

And yet, you are choosing to just focus on your own journey.

In my personal life, I feel like one of my main goals has been to put myself on the easiest path home!

Trying to align myself to the gospel, focus on refining my personal traits, and loving God.

These are fantastic goals.

But as I’ve matured, I’ve realized that the goal of this life is not just for me to make it safely to my heavenly home, finding the smoothest route possible.

One of my main goals is to look outside myself.

To see the people in need.

The people who are struggling.

The people who need a friend.

And to help, lift, and love.

To take the long way home, serving others and messing up my kitchen, and getting tear stains on my shoulder.

And now, I don’t think I want to take the easy way home, gliding down the river.

I want to get off and walk. Meet people. Serve. Love. Teach.

I want to get off my canoe.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The easy way home first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.