Sunday Thoughts

Remember a few months ago when Michelle, Kristi and I went to Women's Conference? Our favorite talk was Sister Beck's talk from the opening session at the Marriott Center. It was so powerful that it set the tone for the entire conference and had us oozing with the Spirit for the entire week afterward (I really miss feeling that way and I wish I could get that back).

I have already blogged about how she spoke of Essentials, Necessities and Nice-to-Do's, but this is another part of the talk that really spoke to me.


"I have said lately that women are like lionesses at the gate of the home. Whatever happens in that home and family happens because she cares about it and it matters to her. She guards that gate, and things matter to that family if they matter to her. For example, if the lioness at the gate believes in the law of tithing, tithing will be paid in that family. If that family has a humble little portion of ten pesos coming in, that lioness will safeguard the one peso if tithing is important to her. If that lioness at the gate knows about renewing her baptismal covenants with God, she will be in sacrament meeting on Sunday, and she will prepare her children to be there. They will be washed, cleaned, combed, and taught about that meeting and what happens there. It isn’t a casual event, but it is serious to her, and it will be serious to them. The lioness at the gate ensures that temple worship is taken care of in the family. She encourages that participation. She cares about seeking after her ancestors. If the lioness at the gate knows about and understands missions, missionaries, and the mission of the house of Israel, she will prepare future missionaries to go out from that home. It is very difficult to get a lion cub away from a lioness who doesn’t believe in missions, but if the lioness believes in a mission, she will devote her life to preparing the cub to go out and serve the Lord. That’s how important she is. Service happens if she cares about it.

Sisters, you are each like the lioness at the gate. This means that there has to be some prioritizing. I was taught years ago that when our priorities are out of order, we lose power. If we need power and influence to carry out our mission, then our priorities have to be straight." --Sister Beck (Here is a link to the entire talk)

Oh how I love the imagery of this! I think this is so true, and though it annoys me that so much depends on us as women, I also know that we are highly capable and have a way of making things happen.

It's really noticeable if you stop and think about it. Just think about someone you know who lets things that are important to you slide (i.e., cleaning, disciplining their children, FHE, scripture study, making meals etc.). If it's something we're good at doing then we think it's easy and obvious what they need to do to make these things happen. But as women and mothers we should be stretching ourselves to improve in our weak areas because it will benefit our families. I have many areas that need improvement, and when I think of myself as a lioness at the gate guarding my household from the traps of the world the need to improve feels urgent.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: Isn't crazy how quickly Sunday comes around each week? But I'm always relieved to have this day to relax, regroup spiritually and recommit to doing better in the coming week.