To be a woman of faith ...

When I worked back in public relations, I felt powerful -- I rubbed shoulders with top-notch executives and was responsible for some pretty cool media coverage. I felt unstoppable in fulfilling my callings at church and important in my singles branch. I felt empowered, imaginative, energetic and smart.

And then I became a mom.

Somehow now I feel like I don't know nearly enough, I realize I don't really have much power, and the energy is gone. Oh, and that smart thing -- I remember when I was smart ...

It's amazing how my kids have made me realize that I really am not in control. But then again, was I ever?

Sometimes being a mom, especially a stay-at-home mom, feels like maybe it's not enough. And maybe that's true in the world's eyes. (Let's face it -- the pay stinks. ;) I think that's Satan's way of trying to get us to undermine the power we have as moms and as women of faith. I've been thinking a lot about a quote that was in a recent Visiting Teaching message:

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. ... We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith." - Margaret D. Naudauld (Ensign, Nov. 2000, 15)

I realized that being a woman of God, especially a mother who is a woman of God, makes me influential, powerful and intelligent. I probably have more influence than any career-woman out there, no matter her connections or fortune. Don't believe me? How about a prophet of God:

"The righteous woman's strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times." - President Spencer W. Kimball (Ensign, Nov. 1978, 103)

And one more to really make me feel empowered:

"Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family is doing the work of God. Every sister who lives as a woman of God becomes a beacon for others to follow and plants seeds of righteous influence that will be harvested for decades to come. Every sister who makes and keeps sacred covenants becomes an instrument in the hands of God.” - Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Ensign, Apr. 2002, 66–73).

The Lord certainly loves His daughters! He understands our influence and the power that can come from happy, inspired children and families. I am so grateful that He recognizes the importance of motherhood and that His servants remind us on a continual basis that the world's opinion doesn't matter. Yes, the pay stinks. But the benefits are the best I've had yet. :)