I successfully survived the first week of my girls going back to school! I know it sounds a little backwards. Shouldn't I be saying that they were the ones who survived? Oh no, they have been looking forward to going back for at least a week prior. For me, it is pure torture. When they leave, the house gets too quiet. I worry that the teachers won't teach them right, or the other students might teach them things that should never be in a girls head. Last but not least, my God-given opportunity of being a nurturing mom seems to be robbed from me for a better portion of the day and I suddenly feel quite accountable for how I am using my time. Should I be spending this time cleaning my house, going back to school, visiting the sick or the needy, rubbing my husbands back while he works through seemingly endless phone meetings, or eating chocolate bonbons and watching sappy movies???
Indecision leaves me paralyzed.
Week one was so scary that I decided I couldn't make such a big decision. I ruled out the bonbons, because I already am squeezing into my clothes, rubbing my dear husband's back just seemed like too much pampering. Visiting should have been a good option, but my mascara stained cheeks might have given the wrong impression. So, I cleaned. I scrubbed and reorganized my kitchen. Good thing too! When did my drawers and cupboards get so dirty? I decided that drawers and cupboards are a lot like life. We go along not realizing how much grime and crumbs we are getting on our souls. It is time to get a good stiff brush out and get cleaning, then go to sacrament meeting to wash it all away.
Story of the week out of my journal:
A big pay day for my service in Young Women’s happened today. A less active Laurel gave a youth talk in Sacrament mtg. Just seeing her up there was such a great day for me. I have called, dropped by, sent cards & texts, emails, face booked, made her cookies, sewed her a pillowcase and everything in the past 10 months that I could think of without physically dragging her from her room. Never once has she answered any of my calls, texts, emails, or even the door when I can hear that she is there.
She gave a beautiful talk on the worth of souls. It was eloquent! She invited us to notice the worth in each person we meet, and gave examples of people in her life who have done this. She told everyone over the pulpit every single act I have done. True! Before this moment, I didn't even know if she had actually received any of the things I done. In fact, the previous week I talked to Calvin about her wondering if I was pushing her away. I guess you never know. Someone once told me that Mother Theresa said "Good Works are links that form the chain of love". Mother Theresa walked dusty roads to bring love to others, but she always saw the abundance of the blue sky.
