Some people may file this under the "What Were They Thinking?" category, but here I go: I was called, sustained, and set apart to be the Young Women's President in my ward yesterday.
The best response I had all day was this: As I was standing there after my name was called, waiting to be sustained, feeling the heat rise in my face and my legs shake a bit, one of the young women in our ward two rows ahead of us with a look of incredulity on her face said to me, "Did you know about this???"
Now that would be a hard pill to swallow, get a calling right over the pulpit like that. Makes me think of missionaries of yore. Those poor men, and their poor wives!
I've known for six weeks this was coming. The day I was called into the bishop's office I got a call at 8:00 a.m. from the exec. sec. "the bishop would like to see you and your husband." My initial thought was that the bishop was checking up on us. He knew we'd been through a rough patch and had said he wanted to talk with us a few weeks earlier, so I assumed we were going in for a regular old chit-chat. Then the thought came, he wants to talk to me and it has something to do with Young Women. But still, I denied denied denied. I'm good at that. But when the talk turned to me and my work schedule and my life responsibilities, I could see it coming. But even then, I didn't see THIS coming. I mean, are you sure? I'm not exactly a pillar of hugs, lovey-ness, and crafts. You may remember a couple posts back....I'm not a camper!
What does this all mean? It means I get myself some fantastic counselors and a rockin' secretary and go to work. Now that's something I CAN do. And I'm pretty good at delegation. And I'm super super excited to earn my own Young Woman Medallion (you see, I never earned mine all those years ago), and I get to surround myself with some amazingly fantastic girls whose personalities and testimonies amaze and humble me.
If I can only overcome the first hurdle......which is the mass amount of stink eye I got as the YW were saying goodbye to their old leaders. Yikes! This isn't my fault. I swear I didn't campaign for this. In fact, I always said I'd probably stink at being in YW. I just assumed I wasn't the type. The type always seemed to fit into a certain body mold which I broke through in the 10th grade. And the type always seemed to have perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect lives. Perfect craftiness, perfectly done nails, perfect testimonies and perfect make-up.
Me, with my mascara that streaks, my hair that hangs flat, my pantyhose (if I even wear them) with runs going from waist to toe, my size {cough, cough}, my imperfect life, my over-opinionated self....
Where will you file this? Which category does this go under?
For me this one doesn't get filed yet. This one is a WIP (work in progress). This one will assuredly try me and test me. And fill me up, further than I've ever been filled before. Because that is how the gospel works.
I know my young women, can I call them that yet? My YW? Will they let me? I know my young women probably won't ever read this blog, but if you're out there one day, wondering how I felt about this most monumental occasions in my life, know this:
I love the Lord. I know He lives. I know His gospel has been restored. And I will do everything in my power to see that you have a desire to stay on the path that will lead you back to him, via the temple. I will do all I can to support your righteous parents in their your desires for your eternal future.
And, we are gonna have a blast! So brace yourselves, this ride may get bumpy.
9 comments:
You will be the best YW president ever. Seriously. I can't wait to hear about all the fun you are going to have! Good luck. You'll do great.
You have an amazing testimony and if you only ever bear witness to the Young Women, that just may be enough. Wish my daughter could be served by you...you'll be amazing!
You will be great. The stink eye will be there every week, but don't take it as a measure of how you are doing in the calling. That's just how they are. I gave the stink eye, a lot, and I LOVED my leaders.
You go girl!
You'll do great! Have to admit I'm jealous. I love Young Women's and every time I get called to it it is very short lived. I know the Lord knows where we need to be for our own growth and to help serve others but sometimes it's so hard to see it yourself.
Oh Jeanna! I have no doubt that you are supposed to be the YW president of your ward at this time. You were called precisely for the reason that you are a work in progress. Our young women need to know that it doesn't matter what you look like, what shape you are or what your talents are that you can be a successful woman. They need someone as imperfectly perfect as you are. I have no doubt that this calling will test you and strengthen you. I am so thrilled for the girls in your ward. They don't know how richly they have just been blessed. Good luck...my prayers and confidence are with you. You are gonna knock 'em dead!
Oh and you should call Julie. She'll be thrilled and will probably have some really great advice for you...Julie your cousin...although Julie your sister-in-law is pretty great too. Boy you sure have some astounding Julie's in your life!
this was a great post! having been in a YW presidency, i know first-hand there ain't no mold. you are going to do a great job. and as you've already figured out... you're going to LOVE it!
I think you will be wonderful in your new calling. You know - - - no one is perfect. Some only look it. You are a wonderful person for the YW to look up to as an example of many things. You have the right attitude. Enjoy the blessings etc.
Congrats! Jeanna You fit the mold just fine. You are so fun to be around and love to have a good time and laugh. You don't take things too serious, but yet are serious when it is needed. You will be inspired and directed beyond your imagination. These girls are going to love you. Just be real and have fun and love them with all of your heart. I think it is so awesome,plus to be in this with your daughter at this time in her life is pretty special. Good luck, although I don't think any is needed.
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