Sunday, May 3, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Adjustable
The pot of water on the stove starts boiling over while I'm chopping veggies on the 12 inches of counterspace I have in my kitchen. With the cookie rack balanced on the separator of the sink; I dump the pasta in the pot, turn down the heat, and pull the cookies out of the oven just as the timer goes off. The stove top's covered in pans of cooking food, so I search frantically for a space to set my hot pan of cookies. The 12 inches of counterspace is already overoccupied... the sink!... already occupied. Oh wait, I do have another 12-inch piece of countertop... but it's being used by the rack full of drying dishes. I would stick my cookies on top of them, if there wasn't already a bowl of something or other balanced on top of the drying dishes. I finally resort to holding the hot pan of cookies while they cool and I stir the boiling sauce with my other hand. Finally, I shovel the cookies off onto the rack balanced on the sink. I've almost mastered the skill of cooking a bazillion things at once, or anything at all for that matter, in my closet-sized (literally) kitchen. It wasn't always this way.
When babies are born, their bodies must experience great adjustment. Each day they adjust more and more to the new world they have entered. But each day, as their bodies are allowed to adjust, they become stronger and stronger. So can we, as we adjust to circumstances in our lives, become stronger and stronger.
So, I'm trying to be more "adjustable."
I recently went from this:
To this:
I don't regret the decision. However, it has required some adjustment.
Our lives are full of changes - good or bad - and we, are required to adjust. Often times the decision to adjust is ours. We can choose to live in discomfort or misery. We can choose to refuse change.
Or... we can adjust.
We live in a world of adjustable things. Adjust the sound; adjust the height; adjust the length; adjust the temprature; adjust the lighting; adjust the support level; adjust the angle; adjust width.... modern convenience is wonderful. But are we sometimes losing the growth that comes with adjusting ourselves? Adjusting ourselves to our circumstances can make us stronger. Better.
When you adjust a belt, you leave room for growth. Of course in this sense, there is a negative associated with gaining weight. However, if we choose to adjust the "belt" in our selves, we allow our spirits and our character room to grow.
When our eyes are exposed to light, they adjust. Often after a long time in the dark it is hard for our eyes to adjust to light. But once our eyes are adjusted, the light helps them see far more than they could in the dark. The light illuminates everything. When we allow ourselves to adjust to circumstances (either that we have chosen, or that God has chosen for us, or that others have chosen for us) we can see the beauty in all that is around us. And we are able to see things in a different "light."
When babies are born, their bodies must experience great adjustment. Each day they adjust more and more to the new world they have entered. But each day, as their bodies are allowed to adjust, they become stronger and stronger. So can we, as we adjust to circumstances in our lives, become stronger and stronger.
So, I'm trying to be more "adjustable."
And I hope in doing so, to be able to grow and become stronger. And happier.
And to see the beauty....if there is any.... in my miniscule,
closet-sized kitchen!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Create!
In connection with my little spill on creating, I found an inspiring little video on the subject.
This is based on a talk by Elder Uchdorf and it's on lds.org.
It's called "create"
Never underestimate the power of creating!
The power we each possess!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Today, Tomorrow and Someday
"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith, 'A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half;
trust God: see all, nor be afraid!'"
Rabbi Ben Ezra (1864), stanza 1
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith, 'A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half;
trust God: see all, nor be afraid!'"
Rabbi Ben Ezra (1864), stanza 1
"God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been
as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go."
~Jeffrey R. Holland (apostle, LDS Church)
as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go."
~Jeffrey R. Holland (apostle, LDS Church)
Life is so much about progression: about change, about faith and about moving forward. God planned time and seasons of change because change is so good for us as humans! Change allows us to stretch, to learn, to grow and also gives us excitement and variety in life as well as motivating us to make goals, to "start fresh" and to become better as we look to the future. The past often holds many valuable memories and lessons that bring joy and enrich our lives. However, life is not about living in the past. It's about looking to the future! Our lives are all about the future. The future is the only thing we have power over. And the future holds everything for us! No matter what the past holds, the future holds who we will become. And the power of Christ's atonement is what makes all of this possible, if we choose to use it. God wants us to look to the future and to progress. He cares most about what we become!
"Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us..." (Jeffrey R. Holland)
"Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us..." (Jeffrey R. Holland)
Saturday, November 8, 2008
"The hand that rocks the cradle"
Lately I've been thinking a lot about mothers, and have been confused and frustrated with what I've been seeing of women.
A mother, to me, is a woman who has been given power that no one else in the world possesses. A mother is someone who is living the ultimate dream and experiences the ultimate of joy. What a privilege! What greater gift is there than motherhood (or fatherhood?) But particularly motherhood. To be entrusted with precious children. To be their co-creator, their protector, their nurturer, their teacher, their friend; the one who they can come to to feel loved and understood; the one who is always there for them. To witness the purity, the joy, the excitement, the love that only comes from mothering a child. And to have that be entitled to us as our biggest and most sacred responsibility is no small thing.
Not only is motherhood a tremendous privilege, blessing and responsibility (for what is worth more than a human soul, a human life, especially that of a child?), it also possesses great power; power that most people overlook. You can't ignore the truth of the words of W.R. Wallace who said, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." The power and influence of a mother, as she teaches her children, is the power and influence that is the future of the world! This power does not come at a small price. This power requires all the time and attention a mother can give!
I have always dreamed of being a mother. I feel I have had my fair share of experiences and accomplishments in life. I have recieved an education from one of the best universities. And I feel the best way I can use that degree right now is as a mother, in my home with my children. I consider my greatest accomplishment that of being a mom. It wasn't until I became a wife and mother that I have been able to live my dream. There is nothing I have yearned for more! And I am only grateful I have had this priceless opportunity.
There is so much time in life to live, experience and accomplish. But there are only a few years when a mother has children in her home. These precious years are special years for mothers to raise, nurture and teach their children. This is the responsibility in which they have been entrusted.
Would I trade my husband for his job? No. He has an important job. We each need to do our part for the happiness and well-being of our children and our family. But trade him for his job? It is definitely a woman's divine role to be the nurturer of the children - all of nature points to it! It's a part of who I am. I wouldn't trade it for the world!
When I witness my children learning something new, there is a light in their eyes that is irresistable. There is nothing more satisfying than being an instrument in that process - being part of a soul receiving truth and enlightenment.
When I kiss the soft cheeks and hold the sturdy little hands; when I hug the little bodies, and feed the little mouths; when I create a smile, a memory, a sanctuary, for these little ones, there is nothing in this world that can compare with the satisfaction and divinity of this work. I feel so blessed every day, and I can't ignore the ache I feel when I think of ever having to give it up.
How could anyone want to give this up? There are those who do. I do not understand. There are those who go searching for another profession. What are they looking for? For power? For fulfillment? For self-worth? For freedom? For relief from boredom? Or to spend their days helping others...who are more important than their children? It's like finally getting the dream job, only to hire a substitute each day!....it doesn't make sense to me. All the noble and worthy jobs in the world are not more important to me than my precious children. I would never imagine finally acquiring my "dream" job, and then giving it up to someone else each day! Unless, of course, I had to.
There will be many years when I can chase my "dreams." But the years with my children are few. I would not give up this privilege to any nanny, daycare, or grandma in the world as long as I could help it. I would sacrifice much to be home with my children! There are many who do.
"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother," says Lin Yutang. Are we going to give up that right? In search for other rights we feel we do not have? Where are we going and what are we looking for when we leave our homes and children each day? How many of the precious few moments are we wasting? How much will we long for them back when we are finally "free" to pursue our "dreams"; when we are finally free to find "fulfillment"; when we are finally free to be "successful?"
How many of us mothers are giving up our greatest rights in pursuit of another? How many of us are giving up such divine power in search of power from the powerless? How many of us are giving up moments with our precious little ones so someone else can enjoy them? How many of us are sacrificing our childrens' longings to be with their mother, and their need to be taught, nourished and companioned, so that we can teach, serve, or work for others? Are the needs of others more important than our children's? And what child would not jump at the chance of spending each day with their mother?
I understand there are those women who long to be home with their children each day, but can't. I know those women are strong and God helps them and their families. But there definitely are those who make a choice. Why do they?
I love the words of Anne Campbell as she looked at her children:
You are the trip I did not take;
You are the pearls I cannot buy;
You are my blue Italian lake;
You are my piece of foreign sky.
(“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)
Mothers, come home. Your children need you. The world needs you - at home!
A mother, to me, is a woman who has been given power that no one else in the world possesses. A mother is someone who is living the ultimate dream and experiences the ultimate of joy. What a privilege! What greater gift is there than motherhood (or fatherhood?) But particularly motherhood. To be entrusted with precious children. To be their co-creator, their protector, their nurturer, their teacher, their friend; the one who they can come to to feel loved and understood; the one who is always there for them. To witness the purity, the joy, the excitement, the love that only comes from mothering a child. And to have that be entitled to us as our biggest and most sacred responsibility is no small thing.
Not only is motherhood a tremendous privilege, blessing and responsibility (for what is worth more than a human soul, a human life, especially that of a child?), it also possesses great power; power that most people overlook. You can't ignore the truth of the words of W.R. Wallace who said, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." The power and influence of a mother, as she teaches her children, is the power and influence that is the future of the world! This power does not come at a small price. This power requires all the time and attention a mother can give!
I have always dreamed of being a mother. I feel I have had my fair share of experiences and accomplishments in life. I have recieved an education from one of the best universities. And I feel the best way I can use that degree right now is as a mother, in my home with my children. I consider my greatest accomplishment that of being a mom. It wasn't until I became a wife and mother that I have been able to live my dream. There is nothing I have yearned for more! And I am only grateful I have had this priceless opportunity.
There is so much time in life to live, experience and accomplish. But there are only a few years when a mother has children in her home. These precious years are special years for mothers to raise, nurture and teach their children. This is the responsibility in which they have been entrusted.
Would I trade my husband for his job? No. He has an important job. We each need to do our part for the happiness and well-being of our children and our family. But trade him for his job? It is definitely a woman's divine role to be the nurturer of the children - all of nature points to it! It's a part of who I am. I wouldn't trade it for the world!
When I witness my children learning something new, there is a light in their eyes that is irresistable. There is nothing more satisfying than being an instrument in that process - being part of a soul receiving truth and enlightenment.
When I kiss the soft cheeks and hold the sturdy little hands; when I hug the little bodies, and feed the little mouths; when I create a smile, a memory, a sanctuary, for these little ones, there is nothing in this world that can compare with the satisfaction and divinity of this work. I feel so blessed every day, and I can't ignore the ache I feel when I think of ever having to give it up.
How could anyone want to give this up? There are those who do. I do not understand. There are those who go searching for another profession. What are they looking for? For power? For fulfillment? For self-worth? For freedom? For relief from boredom? Or to spend their days helping others...who are more important than their children? It's like finally getting the dream job, only to hire a substitute each day!....it doesn't make sense to me. All the noble and worthy jobs in the world are not more important to me than my precious children. I would never imagine finally acquiring my "dream" job, and then giving it up to someone else each day! Unless, of course, I had to.
There will be many years when I can chase my "dreams." But the years with my children are few. I would not give up this privilege to any nanny, daycare, or grandma in the world as long as I could help it. I would sacrifice much to be home with my children! There are many who do.
"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother," says Lin Yutang. Are we going to give up that right? In search for other rights we feel we do not have? Where are we going and what are we looking for when we leave our homes and children each day? How many of the precious few moments are we wasting? How much will we long for them back when we are finally "free" to pursue our "dreams"; when we are finally free to find "fulfillment"; when we are finally free to be "successful?"
How many of us mothers are giving up our greatest rights in pursuit of another? How many of us are giving up such divine power in search of power from the powerless? How many of us are giving up moments with our precious little ones so someone else can enjoy them? How many of us are sacrificing our childrens' longings to be with their mother, and their need to be taught, nourished and companioned, so that we can teach, serve, or work for others? Are the needs of others more important than our children's? And what child would not jump at the chance of spending each day with their mother?
I understand there are those women who long to be home with their children each day, but can't. I know those women are strong and God helps them and their families. But there definitely are those who make a choice. Why do they?
I love the words of Anne Campbell as she looked at her children:
You are the trip I did not take;
You are the pearls I cannot buy;
You are my blue Italian lake;
You are my piece of foreign sky.
(“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)
Mothers, come home. Your children need you. The world needs you - at home!
Monday, November 3, 2008
"Substance"
"The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls."
~Spencer W. Kimball~
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