drop by drop

Yesterday our Stake Relief Society put on an amazing brunch to celebrate the up-coming birthday of the Relief Society organization. The breakfast was delicious but nothing could compare in any way to the production of the Ten Virgins. Amazing, touching, inspiring... They did a fabulous job and I am forever grateful to them for all of their efforts and months of practicing. A parable that I understood on the surface but never really had a personal connection with is now very personal to me. I identified with so many of the different women portraying the 10 virgins... their struggles and strengths, their weaknesses and mistakes... How I long to be more like the calm woman who finds balance in the most important things in life and the one who constantly lifts the hands that hang down and strengthens the feeble knees. How I wish I was less like the woman who scurries about frantically working all day but feeling as though she never accomplishes anything.

My late grandmother used to counsel me when I was a teenager... how I wish I would have listened more!!! A reoccurring theme I often heard was how I could be, accomplish or become whatever I wanted to. She often talked about the power of our minds and how sending good thoughts or vibes out into the universe would bring good back to us. Though not of the same faith, I have gleaned so much wisdom from her experiences. I understand more now than I did 15 years ago and see the parallel in a parable that I've known for as long as I can remember. It's the parable of the mustard seed found in the book of Alma in The Book of Mormon. As I was thinking about the characteristics I so desire in some of the women portrayed in the Ten Virgins production, I would start to get a sinking feeling that I was so far from achieving that; it was nearly hopeless. Then the whisperings of the Holy Ghost would remind me that it all starts with a thought... a mere desire to believe... and become.... drop by drop... I know we can all become the great Women and Men that our Heavenly Father sees in us as we come to Him often and allow His spirit to fill our hearts and lives.