Thank you, Mr. William Somerset Maugham! From the looks of today's post, I've got THE GREAT THREE actually figured out. Today's assignment from the SITS women is to write about a woman who inspires you.
ADVANCED WARNING: buckle-up, this might take a bit!
Today I'd like to be an over-achiever...I'd like to shed a little Lime Light on THREE inspiring women in my life.
Really, if I hadn't stayed up all night and wasn't fighting this sinus crap and a sore throat, I'd have the energy and would take the time to recognize TEN phenomenal women.
Alas, if you don't see your name mentioned specifically here, rest assured you were in the other part of that ten
(and no, not the 5 wise + 5 foolish = 10 virgins.... no, all ten are wise beyond their years, and beyond my ability to comprehend).
So, first off, thank you to all of you amazing, influential women in my life. I am who I am because of your examples. Know that I am humbled and grateful for having been able to rub shoulders with the caliber of women you are! You are faithful, and diligent in persevering over your trials.
Elegant, valiant ladies: I thank you.
- Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
- The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
- She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
- She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
- She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
- She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
- She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
- She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
- She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
- She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
- She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
- She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
- She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
- Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
- She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
- Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
- She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
- She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
- Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
- Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
- Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
- Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
So, the three.
Only one of these three am I not related to.
We'll start with her, and work our way from 3 to 1.
#3- Ardeth G. Kapp:
She has the most tender heart. So kind, and endearing. There are little Ardeth-isms I realize I've clung to in my stormiest times. Growing up, my mom always had her book "Miracles in Pinafores and Blue Jeans" on the shelf. Now it sits on mine. Even just seeing the pink spine from across the room lifts me. Also, when Dani & I went to TOFW in May, Sister Kapp was one of the presenters. She talked about the lesson she learned from her father, as a young girl, of how to jump the ditch. The trick is that you give it all you've got and don't pay the water any attention. Instead you fix your eyes on the "Buffalo Beans" (aka flowers) on the other side. She said that if we fall in, yeah we'll get soaked, but the Lord always picks us back up and gives us another chance to jump the ditch again. So true in every aspect of our lives!
Until hearing her speak, I didn't realize she's faced many of the same trials we all do. I know I'm guilty of thinking, "
Well she was the General YW President. Everything's rainbows & unicorns. She's probably lives an ideally perfect life with no worries." That thought couldn't be further from the truth. She's just like the rest of us since we're all human. Matter of fact, one thing that jumped out at me is the fact she doesn't have any children. I didn't know that about her! What's so great about her is she's living a very similar human life as well, however the remarkable part is that she lives each struggle with an ideally perfect
attitude!
Example: Sister Kapp is 79 years old. When people meet her initially, they usually always ask her how many children she has. Her answer is the same:
"Not any, yet." How fabulous is that?!? Her testimony of what's to come, and her positive attitude that helps her not get down about it all wrapped up in 3 quaint little words. The ditch is always there, it's an intregal part of the plan. We just have to keep our eye on the other side, give it all we've got...and we'll make it.
Sister Kapp is a living breathing testimony of that. If she can still be positive about her infertility at age 79 (knowing she'll have the opportunity to be a mother, even if its after this life), then so can I from today, at almost 31 years old until my end of days.
"Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come." -Proverbs 31:25
I love the Lord. He knew I needed her inspiration in my life, especially this year. I love that He knows, and He provides. He perfectly orchestrates every single needful & blessed thing in my life. I love Him so much!
#2- Jamie Messinger (my cousin):
She has always been an example to me
("...of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."-1 Timothy 4:12)...in my youth, if you'd asked me who I wanted to become when I grew up, I'd have pointed straight to her.
Why? Well...
- She's always fun to be around.
- She's extremely crafty and talented.
- Her testimony of the Gospel has always been unshakable.
- She's well-mannered.
- She remains soft spoken in just the right times, while faithfully a champion for her cause in all the other times.
- She has always been an amazing student, and consequently an amazing teacher.
- A model friend, wife & mother.
"
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness..." -Proverbs 31:11-12
Want proof?
Recently on Facebook, her husband posted the following:
"Hi everybody. Sorry if this embarrasses you, Jamie, but I have to brag about you! Jamie is the most awesome mother. I can't believe all the things she is able to accomplish with our kids. There is a plan and purpose behind everything she does with them. It's awesome. Jamie, each moment since I met you I have not imagined being able to love a woman more than I love you, and yet with each passing day I find myself even more in love. You are the best Mom. You are the best partner, and you are by far the best friend. Sounds all mushy but it's the straight truth."
See, the scriptures DON'T LIE!!!
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."
-Proverbs 31:11-12, 26-29
She's everything we should all want to be, I've decided.
Especially when it comes to having a phenomenal relationship with Heavenly Father, and always having the undeniable Light of Christ with her.
"Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." -Proverbs 31:31
Drumroll............Lastly............
#1-My mom:
I know big shocker, right? Uh, hullo! She's my mom for crying out loud!
This woman gave birth to me despite being told she would never have children....
Despite the fact that more doctors counseled that possibly neither she or I would survive the pregnancy, let alone my birth....
Despite being told to abort me....
Despite 9 grueling months of flat-on-her-back-puke-her-guts-out bedrest!
Apparently I was all for making her earn her stripes or something. It's quite possibly been argued that I've been that way since then too!....stripes....or gray hair....or worry-lines on her forehead....yeah, she's a saint I'm telling ya.
All the "I am living and breathing today" mushiness aside, though, I truly AM living and breathing today because she had the faith to listen to the Holy Spirit rather than some know-nothing OB's back in '79. She's my maternal savior in a way. That's right folks, 30 years and 8 months ago my mom did what the Savior asked of us to do and ultimately did himself on Calvary; by choosing to see the pregnancy through, she risked her life for mine. She set her own life aside for me.
" Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13
Add to that all the years of teaching and nurturing. Both on purpose and by example. Add to that her testimony, steadfast no matter the current storm of life. When I have a question, I know I can always trust that she will have the answer. And usually it comes with a scriptural reference! I love that. I love that she can answer me, and back it up with evidence...with a firm foundation.
One of the greatest things my mother has taught me, continues to teach me about, and has helped me gain a great appreciation for is
the Atonement. And not just "I'm so grateful for it. What a lovely concept." No, no. More like a living breathing, constant verbal application of it in life.
"...I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify..."
-I Stand All Amazed, Hymn #193
She's taught me how to access and exercise the power of the Atonement in my life. It truly is a transcendent, healing force.
"...Balm of Gilead did you borrow?..."
-Did You Think to Pray, Hymn #140
Essentially, she's taught me about love.
How to love others as the Savior did. And how important it is to not be strong ALL THE TIME, and allow others to love me. The Savior did nothing, save it was in love. Even hard, excruciating work....yep, it wasn't done out of sense of duty, it has always been out of love. That's how my mom has been my whole life.
"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple." -Proverbs 31:13-22
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Happy Thursday, everyone!
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