Focus

On Saturday we had a meeting with Sister Beck, who is the General President of the Relief Society (the women's organization of our church). It was awesome. One of the things that stood out to me about Sis. Beck is that she is an "ordinary" woman with a clear and undeviating focus on the right things--the best things.

At the beginning, she told us it was our meeting, and opened it up for questions. Most of the questions centered on the things that were preventing each of us from having our expectation of a perfect, ideal life. They were about the challenges that we face here on earth. One of the things she told us is that we don't get the ideal here. People that seem to have the perfect life don't. Hearing the questions, and her answers, brought us all closer together, and helped us gain a greater focus.

I'll try to recap some of what she said here, though in my hasty notes I didn't capture her exact words. I hope that I put it down in a way that makes sense.

How can we balance all that we have to do?

We don't do it all. She said that she was dusting when she got the phone call requesting that she come to Salt Lake to have her calling as a counselor extended. That was the last time she dusted.

Our number one priority is our family. For the rest, we should be prayerful and seek personal revelation as to what is important. We do our best and rely on the Lord for the rest, and it's enough. It may not be what we want, but it's enough.

We should also be considerate when asking things of others. Anything we ask can take time away from their number one priority.

I'm afraid of making mistakes as a mother.

Not every moment of motherhood is inspired. Some moments of motherhood are inspired. We seek for more of these moments.

Thankfully, children are more resilient than we think.

Where do we draw the line on intervention with our children?

We all have agency. Our children's agency does not trump our agency.

Along with the snippets I have included here, I believe that nearly every single answer included the importance of seeking personal revelation. We need to go to the right source for help. Heavenly Father loves us, and we can have His guidance and direction every single day. We can also be an incredible strength and influence in the lives of others as we love, hope, encourage, and help.

I think that everyone at the meeting went home with a greater feeling of self-worth, a greater sense of their divine nature, and a greater love for their sisters.