This has been a topic that I have thought of for some quite time. When the prophet announced during General Conference that boys can now serve at the age of 18 & girls at the age of 19, it made me SO happy! I knew while being out on my mission that there was a need for more sister missionaries. Obviously since I served a mission myself, I support and feel so much good for those girls that make such a courageous desire to go and serve. I feel we, as women are able and have been stated by authorities, can open the doors of so many that would have remained Shut. I feel the choice of serving a mission as a male, is that of one that is expected..some may have even felt pressure from friends and family, that serving is what you are Supposed to do. However, when a girl makes the choice to serve, i feel it is possibly that of a "harder" decision b/c it isn't expected from others. Some may feel there is the cloud of "but..will my husband be there when I return?" Honestly, if you know you are suppose to GO..then NOTHING else matters. If it's a part of the plan, then obviously your spouse will be there for you when you return. There should be no question that b/c you would serve, your spouse will be scooped up by somebody else. Missionaries, either sex-really do put their life on hold.
I feel with this new age update, there will be an influx of sister missionaries. In which I am so thrilled about. There are many (not all) who serve for the right reasons. I felt oftentimes, on my mission felt the constant need of having to "prove" myself or "explain" myself as to why I was there- I hope over time, that sister missionaries won't have to feel that way.
It has brought me a lot of sadness to hear of so many girls, married some with kids, some not..who did not serve missions have to bring up All their reasons and excuses as to why they Did not go. It makes me feel so bad for them. I don't quite know why dwelling on the past, or feelings of justification has to be involved in their life. You chose to not go, and that's it. It's Okay. Breathe. And Move on. Please don't feel you have to "explain" yourself and all your lists of reasons as to why you did not go, as if people are judging you. I have asked myself- why is it that girls seem to bring up this topic and have to go on and on about all the reasons why they didn't go, and they only things I can think of is 1- Guilt b/c they knew they lost a chance of a lifetime or 2- to make themselves feel better. Either way, it's so sad I hope for girls to accept their lives as they are now and to look to the future with a brighness of hope. There is always the chance of serving in your 50's and 60's. Would it be the same as serving if you were young? of course not. But the Work is the Work, no matter what age.
It brings me sadness to hear of girls who express that they truly did serve a mission, when they are referring to traveling world wide to various locations as a way of schooling. It brings feelings of hurt b/c I feel a Mission is being "discounted" for its worth. And I would full heartedly say-
Nothing Can Nor Ever will Compare to that of Serving A Mission.
It brings me sadness to hear of girls say that now their is a new age update that they would have for sure gone at 19 b/c 21 is just "tooo old." My opinion to that is- if you didn't go at 21, you probably wouldn't have gone at 19. That statement is of course, situational. But please don't beat yourself over not serving, ladies. Feel good about yourself and the life you have now.
How grateful I am for serving when I did and marrying when I did. I feel my 5 years of single life was filled to every capacity.
"The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse and their posterity for generations to Come."
Russel M. Nelson
How grateful I am to have two young boys who I have the privelege of looking forward to hearing of their words out in the mission field~
"Our heavenly father is getting ready to send his priesthood army to
this earth and wants to send them to mothers who have been properly
trained and taught in the gospel, what greater training can a young
woman have than that of serving a mission." -gordon b hinckley
To those ladies who may not have had the chance to marry at this point and whose work & school may not seem a priority- re think the decision to Serve. Prior to a few weeks of making my decision to serve, My mom & I were discussing at Lake Powell
"Missions are not for everybody, but only Good would come of It,
what do you have to Lose?"
Loves!
4 comments:
Thanks for sharing! For me, I feel that if I had been able to serve a mission at 19, I most likely would have gone, but then again, I wouldn't have met the love of my life and have the life I do now. I am very happy on the decisions I made. For me, getting married at a young age was what I needed, especially with the rough family situation I was in. Do I look back and regret, no, but I am ecstatic for those young men and women who can prepare at earlier ages in their life and share the gospel! Missions are wonderful, and I hope that one day Douglas and I can serve one together. As for now, I am going to be missionarylike and do my best to serve those around me in my life.
Nothing bugs me more than girls who say they learned the same things as a mission by doing this or doing that. Not to discredit their experiences...but there is no way to learn what a mission teaches you without serving. Period. I'm not saying all girls need to, or even should serve. In fact, I think simply not being married is the worst reason to serve a mission. I for one am so grateful to be able to say I did serve an honorable full time mission. I never worried that my "husband wouldn't wait" and think its a coward's excuse...there is no way the the Lord is going to punish you by withholding marriage for serving Him. That being said, I have met many women I respect greatly who never served, and some of which are wonderful member missionaries.
@Amanda- I'm glad you do feel that way:)
@ Rachel- we are so Alike! Like it was said--I am the brunette version of you and you are the blonde version of Me haha! Thanks for your thoughts. I too, agree :)
I was way excited about the age being changed too. So many possibilities! I've seen the impact of missionaries here in Grenada and it's wonderful.
I think you're right that it's important for us not to dwell on the past.
The Lord has a plan for us. For me it just wasn't in the cards, but I don't use that as a "well my time is over" or a "I feel robbed," kind of attitude. We should all be doing missionary work, regardless of whether or not we are set apart as a full time missionary.
Overall that talk was a reminder to me of my duty now and I look forward to all of the opportunities I will get to serve in my life. :)
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