Something Beautiful for God

I recently read the book "Something Beautiful for God" by Malcolm Muggeridge. It is a view into Mother Teresa's life and work. The book is broken into three parts. Part One is the author's view and perspective on Mother Teresa's lifestyle and dedication to her faith. The author is not catholic and doesn't anticipate that he will ever join the church despite his feelings of wanting to belong to something great. There are some very political and religious points the author makes and I was grateful for his willingness to share his own perspective on Mother Teresa's life. While discussing the value of life he states that life is always precious or it is never precious, but it can't be precious some of the time and disregarded other times. People are therefore all precious all of the time or no one is ever precious. Part Two includes Mother Teresa's philosophies on topics such as Service, Prayer, Holiness, Silence, Love, and many other poignant ideas. This is a refreshing look at how intricately her religion is woven into her life. Her love for Christ affects every aspect of her life, as it very well should. I was touched by her dedication to religious services and the strength she drew from worshipping the Lord. She needed Him daily and made prayer and worship the highest priority every day. Part Three is an interview between the author and Mother Teresa. There is only dialog, no fillers or third party interpretations. I could really get a sense of Mother Teresa's simple view on life and how to serve God. Her faith and devotion shine brilliantly and I enjoyed reading her words.

I remember being in high school when she passed away. I did not know very much about Mother Teresa other than she was a nun who received the Noble Peace Prize and was rather old and homely looking. Since reading this book I have come to appreciate the way she lived her life and the philosophies she treasured and shared with the world. Mother Teresa taught school to the poor children in the neighborhood. She also created a place to tend to the unwanted babies (a growing trend among the middle-class youth is to induce early labor and leave the fetus with the midwives). This kind woman found a way to purchase a printing press for the lepers so they would be able to make pamphlets and sell them to the public to provide for their livelihood. I was especially touched by the Home for the Dying. A place of beauty for the homeless and forgotten people to die peacefully. A place for the forsaken to be loved one last time before leaving the cruel world they had known.

I feel the need to follow Christ's example and serve others. Some days I am overwhelmed by the insurmountable task to be Christlike in all things, however, I am filled with hope when I find others who have succeeded and live truly beautiful lives. Mother Teresa speaks volumes when she says the basic need every individual must receive is love. Human love.

Sunday Promise

Attending church with wiggly Grace and unpredictable Anne has been quite the experience these past few weeks. I must admit that after church last week I wondered if it was truly necessary for young families to go to church especially when church co insides with nap time!

Sundays are less than favorable days at our home. Edwin leaves early for meetings and often times comes home late. Getting Grace dressed (and having her stay dressed) feeding and changing Anne multiple times and trying to dress myself in a pleasing manner is a bit overwhelming. Every week is the same routine and as much as I try to plan and prepare ahead of schedule there seems to be no way to minimize the Sunday morning panic. Dinner needs to be put in the crock pot, Edwin needs a lunch/snack, Grace needs activities and food, and Anne needs a plethora of diapers and clothes (just in case it's one of those days!) With all that I do for everyone else I find it a miracle I make it to church dressed at all!

Getting to church is only the first hurdle in our race. Once at church I feel compelled to keep my children quiet as possible. A hungry, tired toddler is no picnic to entertain let alone keep interested in sitting still for an hour. By the end of our Sacrament wrestling match my hair is a mess and someone is usually telling me my clothes are revealing a bit more than they should! Thankfully Edwin does a pretty good job noticing my skewed clothes, but people are polite enough to say something so I don't spend the entire day with my skirt turned around backwards or my blouse unbuttoned!

With all the finagling we do during the services I can barely remember anything that was said. Often times I can't tell you who spoke or their general topic for discussion. Even though Grace is now old enough for nursery that is no guarantee that I will be able to listen to the Sunday School lesson or Relief Society lesson. When Anne wakes up its time to eat or time to cry. Either way I'm out in the hall. Not a very uplifting place to be when you are actually interested in what was happening in the classroom.

I know I'm not alone in the Sunday crisis. I see other women struggling too. There is no way to know what goes on prior to church or after church in every one's home, but at church we are experiencing the same things.

In the midst of my distress and frustration I found this beautiful promise that will carry me through the difficult days.

"And every child, without realizing the full portent, can absorb much from a sacrament meeting. They will absorb something every time. " Spencer W. Kimball.



Thankfully my parents helped instill in me the habit of church attendance no matter what my circumstances may be. I too will join the hundreds of other parents who take their children to worship the Lord on His Holy Day. And I will do it with a joyful heart and a happy countenance knowing it is making a difference for my tender young children.

Divine Womanhood

Someday, when the whole story of this and previous dispensations is told, it will be filled with courageous stories of our women, of their wisdom and their devotion, their courage, for one senses that perhaps, just as women were the first at the sepulchre of the Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection, our righteous women have so often been instinctively sensitive to things of eternal consequence. Teaching of Presidents of the Church Spencer W. Kimball p. 215

When facing the Mount Everest of laundry that has recently consumed the washing machine, or the torrent of dishes that seem to multiply when no one is looking, it helps to remember that there are some things I can't neglect. The breakfast dishes may not have been washed right away, but did we remember to say our family prayers? I may have finished that project I've been wanting to complete for weeks now, but did I raise my voice in frustration because someone in the family interupted MY time? Does the spirit reside in our home often, or do we race through daily life as fast as we can using gospel principles as a last resort when things don't work out the way we want? The eternal perspective is to put spiritual things first and remember....I won't have to wash dishes in Heaven!!!

I have been contemplating the roles women have in life. For me.... my roles include

• Caretaker
• Nutritionist
• Comforter
• Entertainer
• Housekeeper
• Historian
• Guardian
• Spiritual Leader
• Mother
• Wife
• Sister
• Daughter
• Friend

“I love women…They doubt nothing. With them the world becomes something very simple. They give everything its correct value and well realize that their laundry is as important as the constitution of the German empire. Near them one feels reassured.”
Renoir

May I live my life such as this....simply, beautifully, and lovingly.

Insights on Service

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in." Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom

The other day I was feeling a little confused when talking to a friend. She expressed how grateful she was to another person for helping her during a difficult time in her life. I was glad that she received some help because although I had offered my service numerous times she always told me she was "just fine." When all was over she was grateful to the individuals who had given their time and efforts to help her. I felt I had missed out on an opportunity to really be a friend to a woman I admired.

A few days later a friend of mine filled my freezer with precooked homemade dinners. Another friend called to bring me dinner, not because baby had arrived, but simply because she remembered how tired she was during the final weeks of her pregnancy. Someone else offered to watch Grace during my doctor visit. Each time a helping hand was extended my initial thought was to decline politely, "you really shouldn't have made me frozen dinners," "thanks for offering, but I'll be alright," or "that was very thoughtful, thanks for thinking of me, but we are fine, really." My words decline the invitation while my mind and heart are screaming "THANK YOU!!! HOW DID YOU KNOW I REALLY NEEDED A BREAK THIS WEEK?!?"

Why is it that I (like my friend) struggle to accept the help offered to me? Am I so proud that I can't admit I too have tough days and could use a little "pick me up"? Instead of turning my back to a generous friend, I find myself saying "thank you." Because in the end the real question should be.....

"WHO AM I TO DECLINE ANYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL THEIR HEART'S DESIRES BY SERVING SOMEONE TODAY?"