A Learning Experience

I typically don't like Relief Society, too many girls, worrying about too many mostly inconsequential things, and too fussy over frills and fluff. I have often thought that I need to repent of this particular dislike and judgment, and every once in a while I do (at least for a time). Yesterday was one of my repenting days.

I attended a Stake Relief Society Enrichment Activity, that I normally would have skipped but this time I was singing in a special women's choir put together especially for this meeting. I committed to sing in the choir for two reasons 1) I love singing in women's choirs (they sound angelic) and 2) I needed to repent and change my attitude toward Relief Society (again). The choir did sound angelic and the song we sang was beautiful, but that is not the important part. The important stuff is what I learned from the meeting.

-Reprimand and Repentance #1-
As I entered the chapel I noticed a beautiful arrangement of roses in front of the podium, my first reaction was to mock the money and time spent, to make those flowers happen. I wanted to consider it another one of those wasteful frills that RS fusses over, but then I noticed the absolute beauty of the delicate pink roses and I was taken back to my own home, where a deep red rose graces my kitchen table - a rose I had bought for myself simply because it is beautiful and brings a smile to my face. I realize that I am one of those silly girls that likes the frills and fluff. I am duly reprimanded and repentant.

-Reprimand and Repentance #2-
We have all often heard that sisters need sisters, right? Well, this point was emphasized again in our choir rehearsals - we were told that these kind of meetings bring healing to sisters' hearts that no other meeting can do. That we receive and extra special something in the presence of each other. "Yeah right, I don't need these frilly, obnoxious girls, there is nothing they can do for me that I get somewhere else. " I thought. Well, I was wrong, as we sang the musical number something touched my heart and a hurt was healed that I didn't even know was there. To make matters even worse, as the speaker spoke, I recognized what my hurt was and what I needed to do to fix it completely. This was a tidbit of information I am sure I would not have received anywhere else. I am duly reprimanded and repentant again.

-Reprimand and Repentance #3-
#3 actually took place the following day at our regular Sunday Relief Society. After having an incredible experience on Saturday and feeling confident that I was cured of my Relief Society distaste, I confidently went to Relief Society expecting more wonderful experiences and some immediate friendships. This didn't happen. Why? I put no effort of my own in. My heart was not in it. This whole RS thing is going to take a lot more work and patience. It will require time and diligence. I am yet again duly reprimanded and repentant.