For My Daughters

My mind has been pondering, my hands have been busy, and my heart has been heavy all weekend. My dear husband has had a very emotional wife for a few days now and treated me so kindly, always saying what I need to hear and hugging me tight when the tears fall. On Saturday evening I had the opportunity to attend the General Women's Meeting. Lots of the things said in that meeting were just for me! I loved that Sister Wixom talked about how our journey on the path is personal, just for us. I love that Sister Burton emphasized that we all have something to give and that keeping our covenants is the best way to strengthen our homes. I loved President Eyring's talk on trusting in the Lord and learning that our trials/tests/hardships were chosen specifically for each of us. And I most especially loved the video presentation!

Yesterday in Sunday school we talked about how the standards of the church are unchanging and how the standards of the world are ever changing. I am always grateful for the standards and values which I have. They help me be happy and live a Christ centered life and I hold them close to my heart. I cherish the covenants that I have made which have put me on the path to return to my loving Heavenly Father again someday. Because of my strong belief in these things, my heart is sometimes made heavy by the choices of others or the things that are happening in the world today. 

Last night I found myself crying to my husband, "I was born in the wrong time!" Sometimes I feel very left out (this might seem confusing because I'm not going into details). But one very important thing that I gained from that Women's broadcast was unity and assurance that I am not the only one who maybe feels like they were born in the wrong time period. It isn't easy living in a world where motherhood is undervalued and sometimes frowned upon. These things are near and dear to my heart and it hurts me to think of the way the majority of the world views motherhood and homemaking. I've been feeling very "old fashioned" and alone lately. This is one of the hardest jobs in the world, and sometimes I feel like I didn't prepare myself well enough for it. It's almost impossible to prepare yourself without experiencing the sleepless nights, the amount of selflessness it requires, the working on zero sleep, the emotional strain, and the endless love it takes. But I am thankful that I prepared spiritually for this job. I am grateful for the time I could spend as a young, single adult studying my scriptures, learning about the amazing women and mothers. I am glad that I had time to be a visiting teacher and learn to serve others selflessly. And I am glad for the feeling, deep within my soul, that confirms to me that there is no calling more noble than being a mother.

I guess I'm writing this mostly for my daughters. I want them to know that they are beloved daughters of a Heavenly Father. I want them to know that motherhood is a special calling, even when the world thinks it's not. I want them to know the importance of womanhood, grace and charity. I want them to remember to be tender, when the women of the world seem harsh. I want to instill in them a love for homemaking, education, and teaching. I want them to know how much I love my Savior and how much I value the covenants that I have made in my life. I want them to remember the sacred nature of the Sacrament and take the time to ponder the atonement. And I want them to know that being a part of the largest women's organization in the world is a great privilege. I hope they will always learn from the great women with whom they associate and enjoy their time in the Relief Society organization as they grow. These are the things that are near and dear to my heart, and the things that I hope I can teach my daughters as they grow into mothers.