In our last ward almost every talk in Sacrament Meeting began "I got a call from Brother So-and-so this week and I almost didn't answer because I knew he would ask me to speak in church. And he did! So the moral is, avoid his calls." Cue laughter.
One more piece of evidence that I skip to my own beat (or am the mother of my head, as my sister said once when she was two), I like to speak in church. Please understand, I get nervous just like everyone else, and I'm relieved when it's over, but I also enjoy the challenge.
Today I was checking to see if my sister (who is still the mother of her head, by the way) had sent her weekly missionary email yet. I noticed a message from the wife of one of the members of our Bishopric. Upon opening, I found that it was actually from her husband, apologizing for asking through email, and wondering if I would fill in for a speaker that had had to cancel. My first thought was, "Sure, I can do that." Then I saw the topic they want me to speak on: Being a mother in Zion. At which point I laughed out loud.
You see, Monday was hard. Very hard. Lots of freaking out from all parties at my house. We could blame the time change, or general lack of sleep, but whatever the reason, it was not a good day. Tuesday and Wednesday were both great. On Monday night Bryan very calmly reminded me about some things we've been doing to exercise our patience and teach Peter to listen and pay attention. I've been employing these and life has been much happier. But Monday is still hanging over my head.
With that, I ask you kind readers, if you have any good resources about being a mother in Zion. I have some thoughts and I'll be spending quiet time today and tomorrow on lds.org searching for material, but I could really use some additional insight.
Thoughts?
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5 comments:
Sis. Beck gave a great talk in a 2007 conference called "Mothers Who Know." I do have to remember that she's talking about what we aspire to be, not what we all are right now. Otherwise, we'll all be depressed about not being the "right" kind of mothers.
Also, Margot, I KNOW how you feel. We have "freak-out" days (all too often) in our house as well.
Yes, "Mondays" happen a lot at our house, too. I think that if you share that with the audience, people will actually appreciate that. If somebody else's life is too perfect we tend to think that nothing they say will be of benefit to us because she has it *easy*. (I say "we" but I mean "I" I guess.) :-)
I highly recommend a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland called "Because She Is a Mother" from the late 90s (I think). There was also a recent talk by Elder Ballard called "Daughters of God" that is also good.
I had to speak on Mother's Day last year and I posted the talk on my blog, so if you want my further thoughts, just dig through my past posts to that (or, actually, use my search box). ;-) The post is aptly called "Mother's Day Talk."
I like "I am a mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson. She really emphasizes that becoming a Mother in Zion is a journey and a process. You are not going to be the perfect mother overnight and you don't have to do everything. Be there for your kids and teach them the gospel, the rest will fall into place. It has really helped me with any guilt I feel and has helped me realize that to be the best mom to my children I need to learn to say sorry and admit when I am wrong. Good luck. You will do awesome!
I love the way you recount your experiences as a Mother on your blog. You are funny, witty and dare I say truly clever : ) I would keep it real and let your personality shine through. There are many talks and scriptures you can incorporate, but I think speaking from the heart from an "in the trenches" perspective will be the most powerful teacher. Whether you realize it or not, you are a great example on this topic, despite how Monday went. Good luck!
that you dont have to have your own (blood) babies to be a mother in zion. you don't even have to have children in your home. you can be a mother in zion in so many other ways.
oh, and thank you for the response to my blog entry! :) we're going to get a tub thingy, but i'm wondering what to do a year from now when she wants to play in a tub. yuck! haha
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