I have been pondering this blog post in my heart for over a
month now. I have even started and
written several versions of these thoughts. Time to get it “down on paper.”
Women of God
I have recently been thinking about the incredible women who
surround me. I really don’t know
how to describe them. The problem,
I fear, is that these amazing ladies do not know their own worth. I marvel daily at women around me who
defy all odds and surmount incredible challenges only to have more trials and
hurdles placed before them. Women
today face such daunting tasks, and Satan would have them believe that they are
failing, when, in fact, these women of faith are truly succeeding in winning
the race and fighting the fight.
These women I am referring to face such difficult and often
trying circumstances. I hear
stories of these brave women, and I am simply in awe. Not one of us will escape this life without entering the
fire of affliction, but I cannot believe how brave, faithful and longsuffering
the women I know are. I have friends who face their day to day life with
courage not comparable to anything I can fathom.
Everyone is Tested
I want to share some of the challenges facing women I
know. One is happily living the complex
test of unplanned, but not unwanted, pregnancy, and others the lonely road of infertility. Some battle severe health issues or
struggle with mental illness. Several have the heart-wrending circumstance of
divorce. Others suffer in abusive marriages or relationships. Some have lost children or spouses to
death. Many lose sleep, and are sick with challenges that face their
children. A few have had adultery
invade their marriages.
I know of faith-filled women whose lives have followed paths
of righteousness, only to feel utterly destroyed when promised blessings are
not yet received. Often dear friends
follow the counsel of the church and diligently receive an education, and at
the end of the long road is unemployment.
I have dear friends who literally risk their lives to bring
precious children into the world.
I know of more than one virtuous lady who has yet to find a
companion. I know women who make
the extraordinary sacrifice to support their families, though their hearts long
to be in their homes.
There are those who could easily shirk calls of service due
to a long list of legitimate reasons, but serve anyway. One dear friend has no
reason to care for an ungrateful parent who abandoned her at birth, but she
gives her home and her heart.
Women everywhere around me survive day to day raising their
children in faith and love while their husbands travel week in and week out,
work long hours, or simply fail to support them emotionally. I have a sweet friend who sold all her
possessions and moved to a foreign country to learn her husband’s native
language and get to know his dear family.
I have another who has lived a faithful life, raised beautiful children,
only to have them reject the faith she taught them.
So many women I know face challenges they never dreamed were
possible, and question their ability to continue day after day. Truly, these women who struggle are
marvelous. As it turns out, we all
struggle.
The World's Expectation of Women
I am continually impressed that we, as a gender, are able to
get out of bed each day. The world seems to demand that we look like Jennifer
Anniston, are as intelligent as Sandra Day O’Connor, work as hard as Condolezza
Rice, and yet have dinner on the table by five. The LDS culture seems to mandate that we shoulder the
burdens of the world, never flinch in our faith, and flawlessly vacuum in heels
and pearls like June Clever. But
the reality is so different.
Daughters of God
The reality is
that daughters of God are always loved by him. Regardless of the current state of our kitchens, the ten
extra pounds, the frustrated words with our husband, the scuffed shoes and the
the burned cupcakes, we are still loved.
In fact, Heavenly Father loves us NO MATTER WHAT.
The reality is that in spite of what we look to as
important, the only person that you have to save is you. You are the most
important person the Lord would have you help. D&C 18:15 states that your
joy shall be great if your bring one soul unto Him. That soul is you.
The lack of perfection that is emanating from our lives day
after day is actually in our heads.
I wish that I could help every one of my amazing friends, coworkers,
Relief Society sisters, and family members understand just how their Father in
Heaven sees them. I wish they
could focus on the many triumphs, and not the few failures. I want to be like Samuel the Lamanite
on the wall shouting to women to remain faithful, and realize that they are
doing it! They are accomplishing the Lord’s plan for them by getting out of bed
every morning and being the courageous, strong, and faithful women that they
are.
God will Remember You
And if I can’t reach them all, then to those who read this,
just know, that your Father in Heaven loves you. Not the one next to you. You.
He loves you everyday. If there are challenges, that’s intentional. If there
are heart breaks, He is there. If there are blessings withheld, they will come.
You are a precious daughter of God.
He is your loving Father. And, no matter the trial, the loss, the depth
of despair, He will deliver you. As
one of my favorite General Conference talks says,
