It's Mother's Day and many women, though celebrated and honored on this day, feel a bit unworthy. We can tend to undervalue our power as nurturers. I love the perspective and valuation given by Julie Beck, general Relief Society President....
Julie B. Beck wrote "True power is found in the hands of a worthy nurturer, especially at mealtimes...
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” states, “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.” A good nurturer carries power and influence. The Latin word nutrire, from which the English word nurture originates, means “to suckle or nourish,” or, in the full interpretation, “to feed, foster, care for, or rear.” True power is found in the hands of a worthy nurturer, especially at mealtimes."
"… As a young mother I did not fully understand my power as a nurturer. Though we were a busy family, I considered everyone’s presence at dinnertime nonnegotiable. It was our most consistent gathering time, and everyone planned to eat together before going on to other activities. I learned of the influence of my nurturing when our youngest daughter wrote in a college paper: “Dinner in our home was not just an eating ritual, but a special time for the family to communicate and to share our thoughts and stories of the day. … We often sat together for over an hour as we savored the conversation as much as the food.”
"I thought I was just cooking casseroles and soup. But I had created the venue, the reason to gather. Because I prepared a meal to share with my family, something special happened. It was a simple process, and our style changed with the ages of our children. When they were young we could discuss a picture from the Gospel Art Picture Kit or memorize a scripture. When they were older we asked more questions and shared experiences. Over the years our children grew and matured, and we loved each other."
"Mothers, who are “primarily responsible for the nurture of their children,” can be a powerful force for strengthening families when they use mealtimes to gather loved ones. They follow the example of the Savior to calm, teach, and help their families remember important things as they feed, cultivate, educate, and rear at the consecrated tables in their homes."“Powerful Nurturing,” Ensign, Dec 2005, 36–38
Family mealtime is an excellent outlet for nurturing power. Plug into your power by planning delicious, nutritious, fun and meaningful meals.
A fun tradition we've had in our family is the kids make and serve Mom a mother's day breakfast in bed. Sometimes this consisted of cold cereal and toast, other times more elaborate. They had fun doing it and got upset with me when I thwarted their plans by getting up before they did. It was a good way for them to express their love without having to spend any money. I was always pleased that they found their way around the kitchen enough to do it!
So power to the women/mothers of the world...plug in and light up the lives of your families with your nurturing!
