Amazing Women

Today I spent a couple of hours in the Relief Society Building training the new YW General Board in presentation skills. They are an amazing group of women, working so hard to be the best they can be as instruments in our Father in Heaven's hands. They will be wonderful. But the two women I want to report on are our own Elaine Dalton and Julie Beck. I was able to chat with each of them and they both send greetings to the rest of our board. They both wish they could be with us in St. George this weekend, and send greetings to all. They are both working hard on the assignments they've been given.

Seeing them makes me think about what I bring to the altar. What each of us brings to the altar, I suppose. Is it possible to know if our offering is enough? Is it possible to offer enough? Is it possible to offer too much? I think of President Kimball's wanting to wear out his shoes in the service of the Lord. I think of Silvia and her energy and ability to wear shoes out in service better than anybody I've ever seen.

A week ago I spent an hour with Virginia Pearce and her husband, Jim, recently diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. They were called to England on a mission until this intervened and now everything has changed for them. Ready to wear out shoes and everything else in the service of the Lord and now doing a very different very private service of truth and courage for any privileged to see them. What is the value of our gifts? Some gifts we give to many, some gifts we give to one. I, for one, felt greatly the gift they gave me in an hour of visiting, though it is awash with tears shed then and since.

This mortality thing is not for the faint of heart, is it? Surely that's part of the plan. Can a broken heart on the altar be enough of a gift? When I'm willing, I think, to clamber up there and place my whole self?

Weighty thoughts for a midweek, isn't it?

Kaye