My Mom was the mother of ten children, so you can imagine what our dinner table looked like each day. A large table full of hungry, energetic kids, we each had our ‘assigned’ seat at the table. As a little boy, I perceived it as an absolute honor to sit ‘on the right hand’ of my Mother each day at dinner. Perhaps I was accorded that honor because I was the baby boy for so many years, or maybe it was because I happened to be left-handed, and the corner of the table made for easy eating. Back then, it didn’t cross my mind why; I just knew I got to sit next to my beloved Mother every day of the year, and I loved it.

Somehow, sitting next to her was a privilege that was ‘bestowed’ upon me, and I felt special. Sitting on the ‘right hand’ of Mom each day gave me proximity to her warmth, smile, and love. What a great blessing it is to be found on the ‘right hand’ of someone you so dearly love.

And so I understand what the scriptures mean when they so often mention being found ‘on the right hand of God.’ “Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come Ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34) In the verse previous, it states, “And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

When Stephen was being stoned to death as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, he “looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55) My Mom was and is as close to an angel from Heaven that I can imagine. Consequently, I have experienced firsthand what it is like to be so close to someone full of love. I can then imagine what it must feel like to be found on the ‘right hand’ of Heavenly Father. Of course, being found on the ‘right hand’ of God is simply a metaphor for being an obedient follower of His commandments.

I know firsthand the special feeling of being close to a heavenly person, my Mom. I pray that all of us may experience the feeling of being ‘special’ that comes from obediently observing the Lord’s commandments. From my own Mother, I was taught that someday it will be a great blessing to be found on the ‘right hand.’ I so hope the lesson stuck! I have no photos of my dinner table, but I do have the picture above of me sitting on her right hand. Each time I see it, I am reminded!

My Mother gave me a small taste of the power of God’s endless love. What would I do to have those feelings again or for eternity? Although in the flesh I am weak and stumble, in my heart, I say, “Anything and everything!”