Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!

A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important. A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently.

Good women always have a desire to know if they are succeeding. In a world where the measures of success are often distorted, it is important to seek appreciation and affirmation from proper sources. To paraphrase a list found in Preach My Gospel, we are doing well when we develop attributes of Christ and strive to obey His gospel with exactness. We are doing well when we seek to improve ourselves and do our best. We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit. When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us. Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly. - Julie B. Beck

Thank you to all of the good women - moms, sisters, aunts, grandmothers and friends - who are and have been a part of my life.

Thank you to a wonderful husband and children who help me strive to be the best woman I can be.

4 comments:

Debbie said...

Very well said, Julie.

I love this quote and really loved re-reading it tonight. Happy Mothers Day to you too. You inspire me to be better. Thank you...

Tami said...

I love this talk! Thank you for sharing it! I loved hearing it and appreciating how relevant it is and the fact that truth is truth no matter what and we are not "entitled" to anything. You are a wonderful example to us all! I hope you had a very Happy Mother's day!

HDH. said...

Love Julie Beck. She gets it. And Happy Day to you!

I haven't been checking blogs much lately (and have quit my own), but I just checked in with you today and noticed your Goodreads button. I read your review of Shannon Hale's "Housewife" book, as well as the comments you received. Personally, I thought the book was adorable, but certainly see that it wouldn't be for everyone (and, were it real life, it would definitely not be for me and my own marriage!). Anyway, I just wanted to warn you away from a best-selling book that made it to my Relief Society book club: "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan. If you hated "Housewife," you will despise "Loving Frank." (Or, even if you had liked "Housewife.") It's about a many years long affair (with Frank Lloyd Wright) and the woman abandons her family. Everyone in my book club loved it, but it literally made me sick to read it. I felt dirty and like I needed to pray a lot, so I didn't finish it. Anyway. Just thought I'd mention it, in case it's recommended to you.

Julie E. said...

H- Thanks for the tip about Loving Frank. It's always disappointing to pick up a book then wish you hadn't. I've known others who have read and quite enjoyed "Housewife" but I just couldn't get into it. It just really bothered me. It may stem from a very sad situation that a friend of mine is in right now, but the book made me think of her and it made me sad.