.: Relief Society

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Relief Society

I've just realized my blog has becomed quite 'churchified' over the past month with my posts on Nursery, Satan's Scheme and now RS. (I'm sure churchified isn't really a word, but one knows what I mean).

This week 5 of the Sisters in our Ward (including me) were asked to give their testimony of the Importance and Divinity of the Relief Society Programme. It was to celebrate RS's birthday and the testimonies are to be printed and compiled for the missionaries to share with some of the families they are currently teaching.

I absolutely gringe when I am asked to give my testimony of anything because I am so fearful of speaking in front of a large group if I am not reading from a piece of paper. Without words written on paper, I struggle to speak from the heart, I can’t focus, I don’t even think I can make sense, and I cannot force myself to smile if there are a whole lot of people starring at me! Maybe it’s a fear that I’ve let get somewhat out of control, but nevertheless, I was soooo relieved when I was asked to write my testimony as opposed to delivering it verbally.

I really enjoyed this little assignment during the week. It made me think and ponder on something I've never given much thought to before. Or, I should say it made me aware of how I really feel about something and how important it is.

The Importance and Divinity of the Relief Society Programme

When I first started attending Relief Society at the age of 18 I wasn’t too excited about it. In fact, I thought it was quite boring and most of the time I didn’t understand what the sisters were talking about. I use to attend reluctantly and half-heartedly, barely paying attention to the lessons and only showing interest when Homemaking was scheduled and there was going to be some kind of fun arts and crafts project.

I guess back then, I didn’t have the wisdom to know how much RS would actually mean to me one day. As I have taken steps in life at becoming a wife and mother, and as I have grown in the gospel over the years, I now realize how great the RS programme is. So great, that I honestly wonder how I would get by without it.

Over the years, RS has become my main source of inspiration. It inspires me to live the gospel to its fullest and to always better myself. I love and need the constant reminder to do my visiting teaching, keep the Sabbath Day Holy, or to remember to pray. I love and need the constant reminder to keep the covenants I made in the Temple and to lead my children in the gospel the way Heavenly Father wants me to.

Over the years the RS programme has become my main source of support knowing that the sisters are always there to help in time of need, whether it be physically or emotionally.

It is also a huge source of spiritual nourishment in my life. My soul is fed and uplifted through the Sisters who have been blessed with an ability to teach. The words they speak and the testimonies they share are sometimes all I need to strengthen my faith or get me through the challenges of another week.

Nearly twenty years later since I first started going to RS, I can honestly say it’s very seldom I find the RS programme boring, and now I not only listen to the lessons, but apply them to my life.

It is through the Relief Society Programme that I am reminded weekly of how fortunate I am to have the gospel in my life and to have a Saviour who is always there for me. It is through the Relief Society Programme that I am continually reminded of how as sisters in Zion we are all paddling in the same boat together trying to get back to our Father in Heaven, withstand our trials, and live the gospel. If it wasn’t for the Relief Society Programme I’m pretty sure most of us would sink!

Amen!

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Funny Comments

Ashton walking into the supermarket quietly whispers to himself: "Please can I have macaroni and cheese, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Ashton: "I want to live with Jesus." Mummy: "Why?" Ashton: "Because he be nice to me and he gives me bread and water!"

Mummy, examining Ashton's legs, and thinking: My goodness, what hairy legs. Ashton, unimpressed with Mummy's examination, pulls away: "Don't touch them. I'm growing Daddy legs!"

Hayden gets upset at Ashton: "Right Ashton, that's it! I'm telling Jesus on you!"

Ashton with a cold: "I'm snotty as a piggy."

Hayden: "The sun is burning my eyeballs."

Hayden: "Mummy, how come your penis is missing?"

Hayden: "I get the bigger piece of cake because my skeleton is bigger."

Hayden (3yrs old) sees me get dressed in the morning and stares at my breasts with a confused look..."What thooooose be for???"

Hayden: "I don't want to finish my pizza, it's got blood all over it."

Hayden: "Ashton hit me in the heart."

Hayden learns the planets at Preschool: Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Penus!

Hayden (shopping with me and whining): "My brain hurts forever because you haven't buyed me anything."

QUOTES

Like the changing leaves of fall...My little boy is now a man.
--Author Unknown

Boys are God's way of telling you that your house is too neat!
--Author Unknown

There never has been, nor will there ever be, anything quite so special as the love between a mother and a son.
--Author Unknown

Boys are found everywhere - on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.
--Alan Marshall Beck

Something For A Giggle....

I Owe My Mother ....

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

My mother taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."

My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"

My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!