Son,
I have had another realization recently, they seem to come to me at the oddest of times. I suppose as mothers, that is how we learn. With our busy schedules and awareness of others, our conscious takes any opportunity it can to make a point.
What I have simply taken note of is this, you have begun your leaving. I'm talking about the natural progression of life, the building of another life outside my influence. One where you keep secrets or have no need to consult your parents. The proving ground of what I have taught you and the decisions you will make is here and I am anxious to see what you will do with it. I see it's evidence in the way you are with your friends when I catch you in an unguarded moment, in the messages I come across that are not meant for me. You are different with them, you are different on your own. I am happy about this, you are a fine young man making good choices. As your life progresses and you continue to strengthen your own decision making abilities, your need for me will continue to lessen. The man you will become is entirely up to you. I can only hope that I have prepared you.
I have always said my children are not mine. You have always belonged to Heavenly Father, I have just had the blessing of helping you start your mortal journey. We will always be tied together by this earthly experience but ultimately our goal is to become our best selves.
Please don't feel that by acknowledging this truth that I am in any way saying goodbye to you. I am simply recognizing that my role is becoming one of cheerleader and course corrector. I am happy to let you begin your leaving as I watch you begin your journey on the right path. But while I am watching from the open door, I will continue to offer ideas and direction when I see you stumble or take a wrong turn. Remember, the road home is never long, I will always be here when you want to visit.
I love you!
Mom
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Ultimate Woman
I taught a class on Proverbs 31:10-31 about a year ago. Ever since, I've called these verses the "Ultimate woman" verses. Many will recognize verse 10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies?" I like that scripture a great deal but it's really the whole of these verses that describes what a woman can be. It's verses 17 and 18 that I want to write about today.
"She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
At first, the meaning of this for me was that the ultimate woman takes care of her body. But the word merchandise didn't sit well with me in that regard. It made me think a bit about what these verses could possibly mean because I know God does not expect His daughters to "sell their merchandise". I think I had a better understanding when I began to compare this to the parable of the Ten Virgins. I believe that when we strengthen our spiritual arms, our arms that reach to Heaven in faith, when we gird ourselves with good and holy things we can look at our spiritual selves and realize that our merchandise is good, our lamps are full. With all our preparation, our candles will not go out in the dark night of trials. Our faith will remain strong.
I love these verses. What a beautiful tribute to the strength of women. I plan to share my thoughts about several of the groups of verses in the days to come. If you get a chance, pull out the Bible and read them. Otherwise, I've copied them here.
Enjoy!
Proverbs 31:10-31
"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. "She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. "She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. "She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. "She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. "She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. "She stretcheth our her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. "She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. "She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. "Her husband is known in that gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girldes unto the merchant. "Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her toungue is the law of kindness. "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idelness. Her children arise up, and call her balsses; her husband also, and he praiseth her. "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain" but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. "Giver her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
"She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
At first, the meaning of this for me was that the ultimate woman takes care of her body. But the word merchandise didn't sit well with me in that regard. It made me think a bit about what these verses could possibly mean because I know God does not expect His daughters to "sell their merchandise". I think I had a better understanding when I began to compare this to the parable of the Ten Virgins. I believe that when we strengthen our spiritual arms, our arms that reach to Heaven in faith, when we gird ourselves with good and holy things we can look at our spiritual selves and realize that our merchandise is good, our lamps are full. With all our preparation, our candles will not go out in the dark night of trials. Our faith will remain strong.
I love these verses. What a beautiful tribute to the strength of women. I plan to share my thoughts about several of the groups of verses in the days to come. If you get a chance, pull out the Bible and read them. Otherwise, I've copied them here.
Enjoy!
Proverbs 31:10-31
"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. "She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. "She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. "She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. "She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. "She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. "She stretcheth our her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. "She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. "She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. "Her husband is known in that gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girldes unto the merchant. "Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her toungue is the law of kindness. "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idelness. Her children arise up, and call her balsses; her husband also, and he praiseth her. "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain" but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. "Giver her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Keepers of Good
Hmmm, haven't I been naughty! I apologize dear readers but take comfort in my consistently sporadic nature. I am an enigma.
Anyhoo... Just thought I'd share a great thought from a talk I heard a few weeks back. Emily Freeman, author of "The Ten Virgins", "The Promise of Enough" and several others came to speak with our young women and she referenced a scripture I had never heard before. Titus Chapter 2, verses 3-4: "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness,...teachers of good things. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home..."
I would happily place myself in the category of "aged women" simply because I know aged women are smart. But since I still have a ways to go in the "aged" department, this reference mostly made me wonder, what am I teaching my children to "keep"? What things am I telling my children, through example or word, to tuck safely into their intellectual reference libraries for use in later life? Here's hoping I have placed importance on important things.
Anyhoo... Just thought I'd share a great thought from a talk I heard a few weeks back. Emily Freeman, author of "The Ten Virgins", "The Promise of Enough" and several others came to speak with our young women and she referenced a scripture I had never heard before. Titus Chapter 2, verses 3-4: "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness,...teachers of good things. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home..."
I would happily place myself in the category of "aged women" simply because I know aged women are smart. But since I still have a ways to go in the "aged" department, this reference mostly made me wonder, what am I teaching my children to "keep"? What things am I telling my children, through example or word, to tuck safely into their intellectual reference libraries for use in later life? Here's hoping I have placed importance on important things.
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