Irons in the fire.

Have you ever seen the movie Awakenings? Sometimes I think about Leonard's awakening to life and the moments of pure appreciation of simple wonders. Always inspiring.

I feel like lately I've been having my own awakening, of sorts. I haven't quite made sense of all I've felt, but I am sure of the source of all my sudden realizations. They are these;

1. Our society today has become so very isolationist in affairs of household and family. In my mind I picture a community of women washing their clothing in a lake together, working hard and laughing, and I wish I could paint myself into that picture. How many times has a woman been over at your house to eat a meal? And in those times, how many times has she offered to help with the dishes? And out of those offers, how many have you taken?

Why do we insist on being alone, as mothers and women? Why do we feel afraid to call someone when the loneliness engulfs us? I am at my home doing my mountain of dishes while my kids watch Dora the Explorer. You are at your home doing your mountain of dishes while your kids watch Sesame Street. How about you come over to my house and we'll do my dishes together, in half the time, while our kids turn off the shows and play? Then tomorrow we'll do your dishes together.

I would submit that house-wives and young mothers are meant to work together in communities of friendships, to help one-another be our bests. We have got to stop robotically refusing to take each other's hands. Yes, we have play-dates to "escape" our lonely duties. But perhaps if we make our duties less lonely, we will feel less inclined to escape them.

I'll come over and we'll learn how to can peaches while our kids make a total mess of the house. And then I'll help you clean, but the trick is, you can't be embarrassed or awkward about having me scrub your floors along side you, ok?

Simple. Profoundly different.

2. Recently I had a personal experience of sorrow and hurt. I thought that a relationship I hold dear would be lost forever in untrust. As I called upon the Lord for comfort, I felt some miraculous things that I cannot begin to fully explain. The best way to describe it is an outpouring of love and trust coming from a never ending supply, through me, and extended to the hurt relationship. I have never felt anything like it.

I realized this; that the adversary doesn't care one bit if we profess Jesus Christ, just as so-long as we do not understand how to USE His everlasting atonement to empower ourselves and the people around us. We can proclaim ourselves Christians all we want but until we tap into the power that comes from Christ; peace, trust, love, forgiveness (and so much more), we would be just as well telling everybody our standpoint on car manufacturers.

I am still trying to wrap my brain around these two concepts. I guess to you, they may or may not seem simple and logical, based on your experiences and beliefs. For me, this is an awakening for my soul to things that, for whatever reason, have been beyond my grasp.

What, you ask, are the implications of these discoveries? (Well, maybe you didn't ask, but I am going to tell you anyway.)

1. I am starting a support group in my home called "Home-bodies anonymous." It will be a safe, reliable place for women to get out of their house any time they feel themselves slipping into despair. A place where an older, lonely sister, with no children at home can come and knit to the noise of my children playing. Where a knock on the door will always be greeted by a friendly smile. Not that I ever answered my door with a scowl, but I'm making it official policy.

2. I am gearing up to love with a greater love than I ever imagined possible. I'm going to achieve this goal by simply letting the power of the atonement flow into me, through personal study and prayer, and out of me in acts of unselfish charity.

I hope that each of you find those exciting bits of truth that make you feel awakened into a deeper appreciation for the life you lead.

Thanks for indulging me in my enthusiasm.

With love,

Megan