my observations as I sit among women

My eighty-something year old neighbor opens her Etienne Aigner purse and puts some church announcement sheets in there, making a little noise as she does so. She wears a scarf around her neck and has her cane propped against her chair. She is steady and strong.

The woman sitting to my left holds her grandson on her lap, assuring me that she has let him skip going to nursery because he is in strong need of a nap. Sure enough, within two minutes he is out cold, his little sweaty blond head bobbing around as he tries to settle in to those comfy arms.

To the far side of the room is an older woman who is gentle and kind. After we lost our little Olive in March this friend told me that she lost three babies at the same point in her pregnancies. Her eyes were shiny that day as she connected with me in this experience. I respect her. And an added bonus, she has never once colored her hair, which is still a beautiful auburn.

At the podium up front stands my friend who sometimes gets self-conscious when she is in front of people. She mumbles a little as she starts, and then she talks to us about the lost being found. About individual struggles. About being committed to gospel things.

And I sit here and realize that I/we are doing the best we can. Some are still rocking babies. Some are mourning. Some are tired out tending to family members who are demanding.

Some are lost.

And some are found.

 

10 comments

Melanie Jacobson | May 27, 2012 at 6:27 PM

Beautiful.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan | May 27, 2012 at 6:47 PM

So perfectly said.
I wasn't able to go to RS today, in the ER instead. So you made me ponder some of the women in my ward. And I felt that I was there.
Thank you.

Becca | May 28, 2012 at 9:31 AM

Yes. Yes. You know what it is to be among the circle of sisters. Lovely.

Barbaloot | May 28, 2012 at 12:42 PM

There's nothing more inspiring than when strong women can appreciate the talents and strength of other women---rather than being jealous or petty. That was beautiful.

LisAway | May 28, 2012 at 2:05 PM

Oh, I just love women. (I just said I love you. :)

Connie | May 28, 2012 at 2:07 PM

We all add our strengths, our love, and our talents to complete each other. What a blessing. What a beautiful post!

wendy | May 28, 2012 at 9:57 PM

Oh my goodness...what a beautiful Post. You put such FEELING into your words. I do..I feel it.
I can picture all these women sitting around you.
I can feel their "experiences and worries".
that's what ALL we women need to share with each other
The things we Feel...and have come to know. Because sometimes we are lost, and through others, we find our way back
through "others"....like YOU

Nancy Cowley | May 29, 2012 at 2:27 AM

Nice post and observation, Karen. Funny, I could almost picture where you were sitting, who you were writing about and who was conducting. Not quite; but, almost. I enjoyed that room so much for so many years. The women in your Ward still mean the world to me. I have now moved into my new (4 years) life and love sitting in a different room but with much the same amazing women. Life is good.

Marianne | May 31, 2012 at 11:36 AM

I love this post. You are an amazing woman, and I so admire your ability to articulate the wonderful things you see around you and relate them to your own life.

Rachel Cotterill | June 9, 2012 at 3:01 PM

Lovely reflections. It can be so easy to take these everyday things for granted, can't it?