For such a time as this

[5ft Diva]

This is a blurb from a magazine article I read today that made me stop and think.

For most of human history, men and women worked together in the same place and each one’s work complemented the other’s. No one thought the farmer’s job was more important than the farmer’s wife’s. Neither could manage without the other….

“It was the industrial revolution that changed everything. Men went out to work for wages, and they were paid for the hours they put in, not the tasks they completed…. Suddenly, what women did at home lost its value because there was no paycheck attached. Repetitive housework replaced home manufacture as women’s crafts moved into assembly-line production. And that’s what we’ve been struggling with ever since.

“Doing work that is economically rewarded and socially recognized means leaving home…. Women aren’t paid for their jobs as nurturers.” Cokie Roberts

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This has led me to the thought that this is why I've been sent to the earth for such a time as this. No other time in history has there been an all out effort to diminish and even wipe out the power and influence a mother can have on her family. I feel part of the reason for being sent to the earth at this time was to campaign for motherhood. I see that this is part of of my mission, for lack of a better word.

There is no doubt in my mind that we were held back from coming to the earth until now because Heavenly Father needed strong women who would not shrink at what lie ahead of them. I'm paraphrasing Elder Maxwell when I say He sent us to a failing world but did not send us to fail. Heavenly Father needed strong and noble women who would move forward regardless of their circumstances. He would need his strongest to teach - those who are to follow - that motherhood is a noble calling. He would need his strongest women to pass the vision on to those that would follow in their footsteps. He sent us, His strongest daughters, to withstand the temptation of self doubt that comes w/ "just being a mom" and knew that we would be able to hold tight to the rod and keep our eyes on the vision of a calling so sacred, so holy. This impression has left me awestruck at the intense training we must have received before coming to earth to take our rightful places as mothers of a great and noble generation. It humbles me to try to imagine who Heavenly Father had selected to be my great teachers to prepare me for such a time as this.

Satan would have us believe that we do nothing of consequence because there isn't a pay check attached at the end of the day or a bonus at the end of the year or a certificate to hang upon our wall with the right credentials from the right school. Satan would have us believe that what we do doesn't matter to anyone because there isn't an awards ceremony to attend adorned with red carpet and first class treatment.

Heavenly Father knew what we were up against when He sent us to Earth. He knew what skills we would need and we were taught how to use them. Know that every day when you wake up you have already been given the tools and skills to succeed. Know that you have been sent for such a time as this and to not underestimate your divine power.

[Charles De Mar]

I am blown away at the lack of appreciation that mothers get these days. Especially in light of what we that work outside the home are accomplishing, as compared to what our "stay at home" wife is accomplishing. As I go to work every day, the greatest accomplishments I have, are absolutely insignificant when compared to the well being of the eternal souls of my beautiful children. No matter what great things the world might recognize me for, my beautiful, dedicated, hard working, patient, long suffering, tolerant, loving, etc. wife deserves much more recognition.
As I am recognized by the world for my work, ie: raises, paid vacation leave, bonuses, etc., and my wife is not, I strive to always let her know how much I appreciate, and value her efforts, and hard work. I have spent time trying to accomplish what she gets done on an average day here at home, and I can't do half of what she gets done with seeming ease.
Although it pales in comparison to the eternal rewards she will get for her efforts, I try to give her the feeling that her efforts certainly don't go unnoticed.

To do this, if I get a raise, or even if we pay off a debt that was a monthly bill, I tell her "honey, you are doing such a great job, I'm giving you a raise." Although all the money I bring in, by working outside the home, is fully open, and equally shared between us, I am amazed by how much this little recognition brightens her day.
Recently I told her we have a new vacation plan, and that she gets a week of paid time off this year. To accomplish this, any day that I am off work, and she feels that she needs to, she will get enough money for whatever she needs to do for the day, within reason of our budget, and I will watch the children, clean the house, cook dinner, etc. and she can have a worry free day off.

I love my wife, and know that the work she does is the most important, hard, stressfull, and rewarding of all occupations on the earth.
Motherhood is truly the greatest gift this earth life, and even eternity have to offer.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!! (To all you mothers out there)

[5ft Diva]

I really like hearing the other half's view of motherhood. Thank you for your encouraging words.

Paid time off, what a fun idea. You're a great husband. Keep it up!!

[Big_Sissy]

Sheesh, those a both GREAT posts. Thank you for your insights/thoughts.

I don't have anything to add that would be different than what's been said already, but CDM, we might need to setup some kind of training for those of us (ME) morons that don't do as well as we should at recognizing the wonderful mothers we have to opportunity to earn a paycheck for.

Really, I think we think about this backwards. Isn't the husbands job to raise money so the wife can in turn nuture their children? The reason I work is to support her efforts.

Mothers/wives really are worth their weight in GOLD. I know I couldn't live without mine, nor would I want to.

[sunrisegirl]

WOW! Great posts! 5D You really said some great motivational things to us mothers out there. It is really a crazy world we live in now and the place "just being a mom" is in it. I'm thankful for being a mom and would not trade it for anything in the world. I"m thankful and blessed for my oppurtunity to teach and raise my children. Oh CDM, you sound like a really sweet husband! What a lucky wife! I really feel like I can be a better mother myself when my husband supports and honors what I do as a mother.

[Erudite]

Originally Posted by 5ft Diva

This has led me to the thought that this is why I've been sent to the earth for such a time as this. No other time in history has there been an all out effort to diminish and even wipe out the power and influence a mother can have on her family. I feel part of the reason for being sent to the earth at this time was to campaign for motherhood. I see that this is part of of my mission, for lack of a better word.

... Heavenly Father needed strong and noble women who would move forward regardless of their circumstances. He would need his strongest to teach - those who are to follow - that motherhood is a noble calling. He would need his strongest women to pass the vision on to those that would follow in their footsteps. He sent us, His strongest daughters, to withstand the temptation of self doubt that comes w/ "just being a mom" and knew that we would be able to hold tight to the rod and keep our eyes on the vision of a calling so sacred, so holy. This impression has left me awestruck at the intense training we must have received before coming to earth to take our rightful places as mothers of a great and noble generation. It humbles me to try to imagine who Heavenly Father had selected to be my great teachers to prepare me for such a time as this.

Your timing is just amazing. Today, being Mother's Day, a sister in our Ward gave SUCH an excellent talk on this subject that I asked for a copy. I don't have her permission to post the entire thing, but part of it goes right along with what you just said. (I'll ask permission to post the whole thing, because it's really excellent!!) She said:

Mother's Day in the United States was first proclaimed around 1870 in Boston by Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation. As originally envisioned, "Mother's Day" was a call for pacifism and disarmament BY women. The original proclamation read: "Arise then Christian women of this day. Arise all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or of tears!" It goes on to say "Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy, and patience."

The point of this proclamation was for women to join together as mothers and decry the wicked influences upon their children. Maybe we as Latter-Day Saint women should view Mother's day in this way--as a day to unite together in our honored and sacred calling as Mothers.

President Ezra Taft Benson warned "We must ever keep in mind that it is the design of Satan to thwart the plan of our Eternal Father. The plan of the adversary is to destroy the youth of the Church--the rising generation, as the Book of Mormon calls them and to destroy the family unit."

To that end, Satan has declared war on motherhood. He knows that without righteous, faithful Mothers loving and leading the next generation, the kingdom of Good will fail. So our Father in Heaven has entrusted women with the care of His children in helping them to return to Him.

I was so struck by the idea that one of the original ideas behind Mother's Day was as a day of joining together to fight that which might hurt our children. You know I'm the one who keeps complaining about the commercialization of holidays...valentines day = chocolate, not love....Easter = chocolate, not the resurrection....Christmas = chocolate and presents, not the birth of the Savior....and I think the same thing has happened to Mother's day. It is sad to me that such a glorious idea was towed under in the whole "honor your Mother with chocolate" (to go to the extreme because there was no chocolate in my presents...) that is brought to us by the chocolate industry. K...I'm done with that soapbox, because my real point/question is, how can we as mothers see the opportunity to band together in strength to honor motherhood, fight the wrongs that are seeping in from everywhere, and find solidarity in our God given gifts? We've discussed on this board the whole "village" idea and raising stripling warriors and this goes along with those thoughts.

When I asked for the talk and told her how much I'd appreciated it, she commented that it was a rousing WE ARE WOMEN kind of talk, which is actually funny because she doesn't say that anywhere and it wasn't given in that tone at all. It is a humble, beautiful affirmation of the possibilities and opportunities that women are blessed with...and guess what? The result is the desire to cheer WE ARE WOMEN!! It was awesome!

Thanks 5D for your powerful thoughts!!

[Mamallama]

What a great thread! Thanks all of you, for sharing these wonderful and uplifting thoughts.

[5ft Diva]

Uniting as mothers/women to decry the wicked influences upon our children is a totally different take on Mother's Day. It does change one's attitude towards the "holiday" when one understands it's origin. Being focused on this sure beats wondering if close loved ones will remember you on Mother's Day.

Erudite, you ask the question: "How can we as mothers see the opportunity to band together in strength to honor motherhood, fight the wrongs that are seeping in from everywhere, and find solidarity in our God given gifts?" My answer: Know what it means to be a daughter of God and then BE a daughter of God.

I'm thinking that the women on this forum have already seen an opportunity to band together by participating actively and positively in the discussions and allowing what they learn from others to improve their own lives and their family's quality of life. This forum is just one tool, women do this kind of thing all the time - you just have to find what works for you. It doesn't take much effort to band together in this regard. Could we do better? Of course we can, that's the way it is w/ everything, but our efforts, no matter how small or how insignificant they may seem at the time, are not in vain. Oh, yes, there are those once in a while, all out, concerted efforts that create an awareness in society but primarily it's the little day by day efforts, done inside the home, performed by the unsung heroes that make the biggest difference of all. If you are wise enough to receive a little help while doing what you already do, more power to you!!!

My opinion is that it is in our nature to band together to fight against the wicked influences upon our children, it's just a matter of recognizing the organized chaos (at least it seems like it is chaos) of that unity - and that unity is not something that we take credit for, all praise and glory goes to a very wise and loving Heavenly Father. If we were all to step up to our true potential (by this, I mean the highest potential we could possibly reach at this point in our lives - and this cannot be done w/ out the Atonement) we'd blow Satan out of the water, i.e. Alma 48:17.

[5ft Diva]

Originally Posted by sunrisegirl

WOW! Great posts! 5D You really said some great motivational things to us mothers out there. It is really a crazy world we live in now and the place "just being a mom" is in it. I'm thankful for being a mom and would not trade it for anything in the world. I"m thankful and blessed for my oppurtunity to teach and raise my children. Oh CDM, you sound like a really sweet husband! What a lucky wife! I really feel like I can be a better mother myself when my husband supports and honors what I do as a mother.

AMEN! Isn't that the truth? (about being able to be a better wife when given respect and support)

I appreciate your feelings and thoughts on motherhood. I want to improve in this area and I appreciate your example to me in doing this.

[Erudite]

All excellent points, 5D. You give so much value to Motherhood both by your example and your ability to share your profound ideas. I think if we remember motherhood the way you describe, the drudgery of housekeeping doesn't seem as yucky.