Trying to "Measure Success Properly"

I haven't blogged for about 6 weeks.  I haven't really read other people's blogs very much lately.  A lot has happened since my last post.  I was busy for two weeks getting ready to go out west to visit family and a few friends, and then to drive across America with my son.  I was gone on that trip for almost two weeks.  Then, I've taken almost two weeks of being home to try and catch up on what I missed for being GONE for almost two weeks.  You know the drill....

All of that craziness has brought on feelings of being quite overwhelmed.  My head knows that we women never really "catch up".  Yet, my heart is so frustrated that I can't.   With my new church calling and an increase in my work, I have been more tired and harried than I have been for years.  I count my new church calling AND the increase in work as huge blessings....yet, with them, comes more responsibility and demands on my time. 

As I sat down this morning to study scriptures, I decided to work my way through the talks from our last General Conference Broadcast from Salt Lake City.  Next one up for me was the one by Julie B. Beck, my current heroine.  Wouldn't you know that this talk is exactly what I needed to read today?

Here are a couple of highlights:

"A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important. A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently.

 "Good women always have a desire to know if they are succeeding. In a world where the measures of success are often distorted, it is important to seek appreciation and affirmation from proper sources. To paraphrase a list found in Preach My Gospel, we are doing well when we develop attributes of Christ and strive to obey His gospel with exactness. We are doing well when we seek to improve ourselves and do our best. We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit. When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us.

"Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly.

I will search for some peace, joy, and hope today and try to not worry about the weeds, dust bunnies, and unfinished projects and laundry.    I am grateful for the Lord's inspiration today to read this wonderful message.