Recognizing the Spirit

I have been contemplating this a bit lately. I have a really hard time knowing if I am being prompted by the Spirit. I know that anything good I think to do is not an evil prompting. But most of the time (really, most of the time) when I follow a thought to, lets say visit someone or call them that person isn't home or doesn't answer the phone. So, when I get a thought the next time and I am on my way doing something else, I will think it is just myself and wandering thoughts. I never get a strong thought to do something specific. It is usually just a thought of that person "I wonder how they are doing" or I just passed their house and think of them. I have - VERY rarely - responded to promptings that were unmistakably from the Spirit and those have been of benefit to that person. I guess maybe I just need to realize that I need a kick in the pants type of prompting and only to help avoid a crisis.

Anyway, another thought along these lines - I was reading last night in 2 Nephi 17. Verse 15 "Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and to choose the good." This is Nephi quoting Isaiah regarding the Messiah. This is how I interpreted this verse for my contemplations about the spirit lately. This is in regards to raising children. I am not trying to judge people who have their children in day-care or preschools. I have felt very blessed to have been able to be home with my children and as much as I may go stir-crazy have been very reassured that it has been important for me to be home with them. These are my thoughts to that idea.

In raising children, the more they are exposed to goodness and light the more they will recognize the absence of that light later in life. They do not need to be exposed to darkness early in their life to help them handle it as adults. This verse means that Christ would be raised with simple and good things (butter and honey being a symbol of God's blessings and outpouring of His spirit - ie: land of milk and honey, etc). If goodness is all they know as children they will be prepared to run away from evil when exposed to it out of necessity when they go out in the world. If they are exposed to it "for their good, to help them better relate to their peers" or to "not feel out of the loop" or to "give them a headstart academically and socially". Then evil will just be an accepted form of life rather than an abhorrence to keep at a distance.

So, in being a stay-at-home-mom, I should be aware of the ways I expose my children to the promptings of the Spirit. Creating for them experiences where the spirit is welcome and witnessing to them. Teaching them the Gospel and forging the armor of God that will fit them snugly and protectively when they do go out into the world. They will learn social skills, academic strategies and networking skills all in good time. These early years are necessary for them to learn things of the spirit, love and kindness.