To All Women

When Christ was in his final hours hanging on the cross he saw his mother weeping. He said to her, “Woman, behold thy son.” And then turning to the disciple he said, “Behold thy mother.” Have you ever wondered why he called his heart stricken mother “Woman” rather than calling her by name Mary or even mother? James E. Talmage said, “Can it be thought that in this Supreme moment, our Lord’s concern for the mother from whom he was about to be separated by death was associated with any emotion other than that of honor, tenderness and love?” Then he adds, “‘woman’ was so respectful that it might, and was, addressed to the Queenliest.”

You have that title of “woman” because you are a Queen. Regardless of the # of kids you have, or the weaknesses you have - surely even the mother of Jesus had weaknesses. She left him behind once in Jerusalem. Even the mother of Jesus was imperfect, but with tenderness, honor and love Christ called her “woman”
The same can be said to you. You are a “woman” and Queen - filled with nobility and infinite worth.

Now sometimes you don’t feel noble, you often feel pain, sorrow and loneliness. Sometimes you feel insecure, inadequate, and lacking in faith. Christ knows exactly how you feel. When Lazarus died and was in the tomb Jesus came to Mary and Martha, who were no doubt in paid and sorrow wondering why. In that moment Christ wept. But why did he weep? He already knew he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. He told Peter that when Jesus first received the message of his dying friend. Yet he wept. Among the many possible reasons is the reason that he was validating Mary and Martha’s pain. He had the solution, but he first took the opportunity to weep with them. Thus acknowledging and validating their pain. He mourned with those that mourned.

“He will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death, which bind his people and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh. That he may know, according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. “ Alma 7:12
Christ has taken upon himself your personal infirmities and cries with you when you are hurt, when you are lonely, when you feel unworthy, He validates your pain, acknowledges it, and has infinite compassion, understanding and loves you personally.

2 years ago I was trying to put to sleep my very cranky and hysterical 3 year-old daughter, Sarah. She cried hysterically for what seemed like an hour and behaved in deliberately disobedient ways. After I had had enough, I got up to leave and as I got to the door she stopped crying, looked up to me with pleading eyes and said, “Daddy, I’m sorry, will you wipe away my tears.” My heart melted, my anger vanished, and love entered my heart like I had never felt love for a child before. I embraced her, held her tight and wiped away her tears.

Your Father in Heaven is right there with you. No matter what you’ve done in the past (deliberate or otherwise). No matter how inadequate you feel, no matter how much of a failure you feel, no matter how many times you failed and no matter your weaknesses. He will never get up and leave. He will never give up loving you. He will Always be by your side even when you feel alone. He is ready to embrace you with his infinite, unconditional, and personal love for you and will validate how you feel because he has felt your pain. He has borne your grief and he will wipe away your tears because you are his child. A daughter of God with infinite worth, and you are a Queen in his eyes.

Marvin J. Ashton said, “Commune daily with your Heavenly Father who knows you best of all. He knows your talents, your strengths, and your weaknesses. You are here on earth at this time to develop and refine these characteristics. I promise you he will help you. He is aware of your needs. He is aware of your unanswered prayers.”
Pray that you will catch a glimpse of how the Lord views you and feels about you. You are a Daughter of God and he loves you with unconditional and infinite love.

- tripletdad, timeout for women message board