Service

On Sunday someone brought a letter by our apartment.  It informed me that the next church activity was going to focus on the mothers and mothers-to-be in our congregation.  Basically, I was supposed to fill out a piece of paper that told a little bit about myself what some of the other women could do for me to help me out.  My first thought was, "I can do everything on my own still.  I'm only in my second trimester! That's when you supposedly feel the best."  Then I looked around our little apartment and millions of little things that I've been meaning to get done came to mind.  Things I haven't gotten to, because I am so exhausted all the time, and when I finally have energy to do it I run out of energy so fast that I have to sit down and never finish.  I couldn't possibly let people come do all those tedious tasks for me though.  It would be inconvenient, a hassle.  There are a million people who need help more than I do.  Then our bishop spoke to us during the first block at church.  He said we women try too hard to impress everyone else in our church.  We feel everything has to be perfectly spotless whenever we know someone is going to stop by.  He said by trying to appear perfect all the time and not opening up to others in the congregation about what we are struggling with denies them the opportunity to serve us and get to know us; really know us.  I really thought about what he said and decided he was right.  I try to hide the pile of dishes and unfolded laundry every time I hear the doorbell.  I really thought on what I could have the women in my ward come help me with, and picked a project that I felt was simple, but would take me forever to do myself and exhaust me in the process.  I am actually kind of looking forward to it, even though I was uncomfortable at first.