Women In Council

   Mary And Elizabeth are wonderful examples of women of different ages counseling together. Their miraculous birth stories are often the main take away but I see even more. Elizabeth is having a longed for experience that most women in Bible days have much earlier in life. It must have caused tumult in her aging mind and her aging body. Being in a similar life experience with Mary must have made her feel young again. Mary is staying with Elizabeth because in her she has a refuge from prying eyes. When Mary looks at Elizabeth she sees a woman who knows the truth. The whole miraculous truth.

                   "What a wonderful model they are of feminine nurturing between generations...."

    On Monday nights four women come together in my home to strengthen and uphold womanhood. Three are yet unmarried in their early thirties, one is sixty and married with five grown children. Two are active members of the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, one inactive, and one a non-member. This meeting started as a book club reading "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown, but it has evolved into a group who voluntarily come together to strengthen and support. 

   Last Monday one suggested an activity that made everyone very self-conscious. Each woman was to think of a negative story or statement they say to themselves. Free-writing about this topic started the activity. One by one they looked at each other and made the statement out loud. Then the speaker closed their eyes while the others, calling the speaker by name, made an opposite, true statement. The negative stories seemed more alike than different. I am weak. I am forgettable. I am a afraid to be alone. I will always be alone. Self-conciousness melted away replaced by a feeling of belonging.
   The positive affirmations were powerful. You are never far from my thoughts. You are stronger than you think. You are enough even when you are alone. God is always with you.
   I am honored to be the older woman in this special group. I feel we are reaching for a place of equality. A place where being a woman is the important criteria, not age or experience.