Good Women

My Great-Great-Great-Great GrandmotherMy Great Grandmother NanaMy dear Grandma Nana and me
My mother and me

I love being a woman. I love the women I have had a personal relationship with, and I love the women in my genealogical line that I have never met. I remember when my Nana passed away. Our family was all gathered together in a small room. One of my Nana’s brothers talked collectively to the grandchildren. He told us that our Nana would always be close to us. He said that sometimes we would have a random thought pop into our minds…a memory…and he believed that would be our Nana’s way of letting us know she was close by. Now, I realize this is not “Gospel Doctrine”, but I still, like what he said, and I personally believe that to be true.

We’ve had a very long year with Raychel…well; it’s been seven years of ups and downs with her health. We learned earlier this year that she suffers from terrible allergies and asthma. She’s had a sinus infection on and off for an entire year. Due to this illness, it has caused her (already small) appetite to decrease dramatically (During the last month, she has lost three pounds, which she can’t spare!). We determined through a CT Scan that the right side of her nasal passage is completely blocked, which means surgery. Now, this “ain’t our first rodeo” with surgeries. Raychel has already had three others in her short little life. Even still, it’s scary. When the doctor was explaining the procedure to us, Raychel crawled into my lap and started crying. As I felt her tiny, fragile body curled up against my not so tiny and not so fragile body (haha!), I felt this fire of faith burn within me. I felt the influence of generations of good women who had blazed the trail before me.

I am reading in 1st Nephi 17 right now. I love when I find a new “gem”. This verse (2) stood out to me the other night: …”our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.” (Italics added) I love that…they were strong and bore trials without murmuring. From the history I know, life didn’t always hand my beloved grandmothers a fair hand. However, they carried on, and did what they knew was right…even if it was hard (and believe me, it was hard). Raising children as a single mother, being left behind in an unknown place while a husband serves a mission, bearing children on the plains, working two jobs to pay for a child’s college education. This is not the work of sissies! I also love Helaman’s account about the 2,000 stripling warriors. His warriors said to him “We do not doubt, our mothers knew it.” I do not doubt because my mother knew, and her mother knew, and her mother’s mother knew. And so the cycle continues.

I’m bursting with gratitude for the sacrifices that have been made for me. I hope my ancestors can catch a small glimpse of the ripple effect of their faith. That strong, steadfast testimony has influenced (and continues to influence) generations. Their sacrifices were not done in vain. It’s my job now to see that my daughters have that spark of faith implanted in their hearts. I feel honored to play a role in raising the next generation of good women. I hope I can live up to that responsibility. As I watched Raychel being wheeled away to the O.R., she was beautiful. She was brave. Her faith was bold and mature. She is my spiritual superior. I feel so blessed to be a mother to three daughters. I’m blessed to have the courageous blood of strong women running through my veins.