I came across a great quote from
James E Faust and another from Barbara B Winder that were nice reminders to me that it is important to strive for balance and to move away from thinking that we have to do it all when we are in the stage of our lives where “Mother” is our top and most urgent priority any given hour of our day. Faust refers to the balancing act in terms of sequencing. In this day and age, we certainly can “have it all” just not all at once—seasons, sequence, balance. These are quotes that I happened upon were a blessing to me personally:
James E. Faust:
“Important ingredients
Women today are encouraged by some to have it all: money, travel, marriage, motherhood, and separate careers in the world. For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family…
However, you cannot do all these things well at the same time. You cannot eat all of the pastries in the bakery at once. You will get a tummyache. You cannot be a 100-percent wife, a 100-percent mother, a 100-percent Church worker, a 100-percent career person, and a 100-percent public-service person at the same time. How can all of these roles be coordinated? I suggest that you can have it sequentially.
Sequentially means to do things one at a time at different times. The book of Ecclesiastes says: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under … heaven” (Eccl. 3:1).
I would encourage you to develop all of your gifts and talents to move forward the work of righteousness in the earth. I hope you acquire all of the knowledge you can. Become as skillful as you can, but not exclusively in new careers at the expense of the primary ones, or you may find that you have missed one of the great opportunities of your lives”.
The message is so strong: You will never regret the quality time you spend with your children. Your self esteem and personal growth will be strengthened as you continue to learn and grow as an individual, as a daughter of God. Prayer will help us to know how to prioritize and balance. God esteems you for the great work you are doing as a woman of faith.
Another quote that aligns to this topic is from
Barbara B. Winder, she was asked this question in an interview:
"how can women make time for everything, let alone enjoy what they are doing?
When we find the answer to that question, we will have found the secret of contentment. We want to be involved. We want to grow. And we grow when we stretch a little and do just a little more. But it is important for us to learn balance and to set priorities. Sometimes we go through a period of trying to do everything all at once. I have had people tell me, “Oh, you’ve done so many things,” and I tell them, “But I’ve lived so many years!” There really is a season for everything. I couldn’t possibly do today what I am doing as Relief Society general president if my children were small and still at home and I were caring for them. My emphasis is a bit different now, though my priority is still with my husband and family.
This is a lesson we all have to learn. Only we can judge how much we can handle. We often think that someone else is doing everything. But usually one sister is doing one thing, and another sister is doing something else, and yet another sister is doing another thing. Then we try to do it all! And when it all comes tumbling down around our feet we realize that we can’t do it all. As we learn what we can do, we are growing; and then sometimes we can take on a little more—perhaps because of what we have learned in the process".
I love these quotes and reminders! I am often in conversation (with myself or with one of you) on the concept of balance. I typically find myself lacking. In reading these quotes, it would seem that our definition of balance and our definition of what can and should be done may be the thing that needs to be corrected. I need to be better at valuing those moments in each day when something happens to remind me that I am in the right place in my life and I am making the contributions that are important to me. Did I grow today, did I contribute today, did I show love and kindness today? If I can answer yes to each of those questions—it has been the day that God intended.
I hope you noticed the moments in your day today!
