musings on women...

I heard from my friend that there has been a lot of broo-ha-ha about Sister Beck's talk on "Mothers Who Know" from General Conference. This surprised me some, and didn't suprise me some. I remember both her talks, and thinking "Whoa," while she was giving them, because she was laying down the law. I remember feeling overwhelmed, mostly because there were a lot of things I needed to work on that she addressed. I remember feeling somewhat affronted, reacting to my guilt and I think trying to justify myself a bit. But I have been thinking about it lately, mostly about trying to swallow my pride. I wonder if others do that too, that all the kafuffle about it is because we as women can't admit that we really aren't doing all that we have the potential to do. We have become complacent listening to our amazing priesthood leaders in the praise they have given to the women of the church and the things they do--which I am very grateful for--but we seem to be having selective hearing, in accepting the praise, but not the remonstrations. So the question is, do we support the prophet or not? He is called of God, and Sister Beck and her counselors are as well. I tried, I think, right after her talk, to write off some of the things she said as "new calling zeal." Now I realize that was wrong, that she said the things she needed to say, that we needed to hear, and was perhaps the only person who could really come out and say them. I think I need to read over that talk again. And instead of getting overwhelmed with all the things I should be doing and feel to give up, move past the pity party and stretch myself to become the person God needs me to be.