I've just come in from shoveling about one water (irrigation) turn's worth of water/snow off my sidewalks and driveway. Even though this weather has put a cramp in my gardening plans, I know that this summer as my dad takes his water turn in the orchard, I'll be blessed with cherries, peaches, apples and pears. With that in mind, I'll keep praying for moisture and refrain from complaining when it comes (and whatever form it takes).
I LOVED THE YOUNG WOMEN'S BROADCAST! I am trying to answer the call for a return to virtue. As Sister Dalton listed the attributes of gold - soft, valuable, pure after a refinement process, bright - and how they also represent attributes of virtue, I determined to take an inventory of my life and eliminate anything that does not contribute to my efforts to be a virtuous woman.
Later that night as I reflected on the call to courage by President Monson and the return to virtue by the Young Women's Presidency, I remembered an article that appeared several days ago in the Deseret News. (I've included the link if you're interested.) Woman Trades Gold for Groceries.
A woman traded in 14 rare $20 gold coins at a bank in St. George for $280. She was trying to purchase groceries at Walmart with her gold coins but they refused to take them. Apparently, they held her groceries while she went to a bank to exchange gold for paper! Neither the woman or the clerk at Walmart recognized the value of the coins. Someone at the bank realized the rarity of the coins after she had left the bank and they are now trying to locate her so they can explain the true value of her coins. Depending on the condition of the coins, their value could exceed $1,000,000 dollars, a far cry from the $280 she received.
I think sometimes we can be like the woman with her coins. We are blessed by our Heavenly Father with so many gifts that are unique to us as women. We play such a critical role in the plan of salvation. Generations can be influenced by our choices. We possess incredible strength, tender hearts, spiritual sensitivity, nurturing spirits, gentle humor and gold-like virtue. Isn't it sad that some of us choose to trade in our 'gold' for 'groceries'. I am grateful to inspired prophets and leaders who teach us the value of what we have in an effort to insure that we don't casually trade down in a moment of 'near-sightedness'. Sometimes, like the woman in the story, our immediate needs blur our ability to recognize the gold that lies in our palm and we trade it away. Someone may track us down and explain the value of what we have already given away. If we choose, there can be remorse and repentance and a re commitment to develop those gospel habits that will return us to virtue. But in the long (and short) run, isn't it easier to hold tight to our virtue?
In my own efforts of following the prophet, I plan to take the three 'gold coins' offered by President Monson -
"My earnest prayer is that you will have the courage required to refrain from judging others, the courage to be chaste and virtuous, and the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness. As you do so, you will be 'an example of the believers,' and your lives will be filled with love and peace and joy." and the three 'gold coins' offered by the Young Women's General Presidency -
Morning and evening personal prayers, read from the Book of Mormon five minutes a day and SMILE. "The small and simple things you choose to do today will be magnified into great and glorious blessings tomorrow." - Sister Ann Dibb
and I will cling to these 'gold coins', recognize their eternal value, have the courage to stand as a witness and return to virtue. Thank you for your example to me of how virtuous women look, talk, act and serve. I've learned some of my best lessons from the faithful women that God has placed in my life.
Love, Nancy
