Years ago I read a story by S. Michael Wilcox that has stayed with me. As I remember it, Brother Wilcox was sitting on his bed preparing a lesson. His young son sat with him. As Brother Wilcox prepared, he read and marked scriptures, writing notes in the margins, and underlined important words and passages. Focused on his work he paid little attention to what his son was doing. When he completed his thought, however, he became aware that his son had been sitting next to him, attempting to copy the work his dad was doing. He had his scriptures open and was, in his little boy writing and coordination, trying to underline and mark like him, to write the notes in the margins like dad. Brother Wilcox was astounded by the careful copying his son had done, but when his son saw his father watching, he looked up a little sad and maybe a little fearful, and said, “My lines aren’t straight like yours.”
As a father, Brother Wilcox wasn’t looking at the mistakes or imperfections of his son’s work to condemn and criticize. He was thrilled that his son was imitating his father’s good work. He didn’t measure and compare his son’s efforts against the higher standard of the father’s work with his years of practice and experience and see the lack. He was pleased and encouraged by his son’s careful attempts to follow.
Isn’t that a wonderful way to think of our striving to be like our Father in Heaven? In our inadequate and sometimes clumsy or childish attempts to follow Him, can you see Him feeling exactly like this earthly father? He knows we’re not yet near His standard of perfection, but every crooked attempt to emulate Him must bring Him joy and hope! He’s not waiting to berate us for performing below par-He’s encouraging us to keep trying and to keep practicing and reminding us that someday, with His continued help and guidance, we can be like Him. We could certainly be a little more patient with our efforts (and those of others) when we view them with this perspective. What hope there is in these words: “…ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.” (Doctrine and Covenants 78:18)
And so we pursue straight lines and perfectly copied notes. We keep trying and repenting and getting up to try again when we fall. He smiles at each halting effort and after years of consistent, devoted practice, our lines get a little straighter and a little more like His. The whole while, even before we attain His level of performance, though, the kingdom is ours and He will lead us along the path that enters there, step by step, until we reach it.
