VT message this month

So, I actually went visiting teaching this week. This was a great accomplishment for me because living out her in the old nission field you kind of get a free pass and are able to count your VT if you call someone or send them a note or something. I tend to do that a lot because sometimes I feel rather overwhelmed when I have to work most nights. I feel like during the day I don't have a lot of time... even thought that is totally not true, so some things get put to the side so that I can get in my nap and make sure dinner is on the table and the house is clean before I go to work in the evening. Anyway... I actually did my calling and went to people I visit teach and gave them a message. Mostly with Jill Stewart I just end up gabbing, and instead of spending the 20 minutes that I plan, I am there for 2 hours! We talk about books and kids and everything else, and sometimes I forget to give the message. She and I just have a lot in common and it is hard to limit myself to just a few minutes. But she plans for that and doesn't mind that I am there for an entire morning. Or at least she doesn't seem to mind... hmmm... anyway, the point of this entry is to talk about the message for this month. It was so good and really struch a chord with me. The message for the month is about the Divine Roles of women. I think that it pertains not just to women in the church, but in society as well. We are bombarded daily by individuals telling us to take care of ourselves. That we need to watch out for #1. We are the most important. And as women in the church, sometimes we feel that this might be selfish. I know I always have. I know that we have been taught that it is ok to take care of ourselves, that when we take better care of ourselves we can better take care of others. I know this, but I have never really bought it. Our role is to take care of others, be selfless, charity.. and all that, right? But as I get older I have been realizing that it is ok to take a little time for me. Sister Beck says that if we don not ttake care of the feminine part of us, noone else will. This just hit me like a ton of bricks when I read it. No one else will!!! So I really need to make sure that I am not only taking care of my family and their well-being but that I am also making sure I am ok. The last quote was from something Spencer W. Kimball said. He was a prophet of the church when I was really little. He said that now, more than ever, in these last days before the Second Coming of Christ, we need righteous examples. Women who are righteous are going to be the biggest influence in this world. This was what, 25 years ago? I think now, it is even more relevent. I think of Michelle Obama, whom I love by the way... she has made it very clear that her "agenda" takes a back seat to her children and her family. As First Lady I am sure she has things she would like to accomplish! She is one of the most powerful women in the world right now... but she has said that her family comes first. She wants to be the wife and mother to her husband and children before she is the First Lady. I think this is a great example of being a righteous example. So, I encourage all of us to think, not only about others, but ourselves, and what kind of influence we can be. We can all be a great influence on our families, and on our children, but what kind of influence are we being on our society?