Ministering Angels
Thursday, December 14, 2006
In the name of love
By Sarita
During a conversation with my father the other day, he expounded on how he would like to be able to assist me more financially with my current endeavors. He was apologetic that we (my sisters and I) did not have the perfect childhood. Financially speaking. I see it differently.I promptly advised my father that our upbringing was in fact, perfect. I had a loving father, who despite great skills and education, had to forgo the affluent lifestyle he hoped to provide in the name of personal integrity. He worked hard to support us in everything he did, always looking for new resources, and being let down time and time again by his associates. My mother was our best friend. Fun and functional. Beautiful in all aspects. And talented. They loved each other. And still do. Had their rough moments when the stress of finances set in, but my overwhelming recollection is of the affection they displayed for one another. There wasn't much extra money, if any, but the experience of having to go without, bargain shop, and be creative with our thrifty finds edified us. We are close knit, and better for it.
Most of all, I have had a great example in love. And relationships. My parents get exasperated with each other but still are best friends and constant companions. It is the simple things that are evidence of that to me and I am sure to them.
My mother has always ironed my Dad's shirts for work. At times, circumstances have changed, Mother has gone back to work, and so sometimes Dad would do the ironing for the both of them. While my father was a bishop, she saw to it that food was prepared and ready to go when he was racing to meetings between work and church. He constantly encourages her in her creative pursuits. More recently, while she faced a stressful work environment that was draining the life from her, Dad, despite his own hectic work schedule, insisted on making her breakfast every morning. Usually a shake, with fruit and a base filled with vitamins and minerals. Sometimes, he ran out of ingredients and got creative.
This is where the love abounds:
There are a handful of mornings that the shakes tasted a little "different" and so Mom inquired as to the ingredients. One day, there wasn't the usual selection of frozen fruit or yogurt, and Dad discovered some forgotten frostbitten lime popsicles of my nieces in the back of the freezer and figured that they would make a good substitute. Mom said it was interesting in texture and taste, but not so much as the morning when she found the shake to have a gritty texture and rather bitter unpleasant taste. Apparently the vitamin enriched base that he usually used in the shakes was gone, and in an effort to make sure that his dear wife was properly nourished, Dad instead tossed in some of their multivitamins.
I think it is the sweetest thing ever. And what is even sweeter, is that she drank it.
Yeah, we had it good.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Insecure
By Sarita
I think it's a given that we all have our little insecurities. From the most beautiful to the homely. Some may be more extreme and crippling than others, but the nature to want what we don't have is all the same. Mostly I like myself. There are some physical things like when I was standing in line for legs, I would have opted for the long sexy legs rather than the long sturdy ones. Granted mine aren't bad, and some have mentioned that they'd prefer mine over their short legs. Then again, I would prefer their thick hair, and had I super thin legs, than I probably would look pretty disproportionate with my curvey body and need to trade that in for more of a waif-ey one.Last night as I watched a rerun (edited) episode of Sex and the City, I got to thinking. Carrie was writing an article about modelizers, or men that only date models aka unbelievably good looking and wellproportioned women. Usually with no intellect (not that beauty has to equal dumb, but the idea that this is all these women have going for them and the men don't seem to care). I find this to be true quite often. And not at all limited to the unbelievably attractive men, but you're general average men as well. Posing the question that, if mediocre men are only going for the unrealistic stereotype, what hope is there for the average, intelligent, attractive, but real life women?
I realize that not all men are completely shallow in such regards. And that is an additional blessing of the gospel; perspective and priorities. My beef is, there are guys ranging from the very goodlooking to the quirky and cute that have a good grasp on the gospel, are smart, responsible, and yet only seem to be attracted to those that are seem to be at the top of their league physically. Those that appreciate maturity, intellect, and beauty beyond a hard body seem to be, in my experience, the creepy, unbalanced type, who a) scare the begeezes out of me or b) are so extremely caught up in being the perfect peter priesthood that they wouldn't like me anyway, because I am not shocked by all swear words and am the type to be inspired by shows like Sex and the City.
I believe that once in a blue moon do we come across someone well balanced enough that it may actually work, but then the desperation to hang on to that fleeting opportunity sets in and I come off as one of the creepy folk and scare the begeezes out of him.
It's an uphill battle.
The end of the episode was actually refreshing, as the gorgeous man model revealed how vulnerable and alone he feels sometimes, that he really wants what most people want, family and stability. And that he thinks that Carrie's nose (that she hates) is cute. Deep down, we are all the same, with insecurities, faults, and a rockin hard body that is just harder for some of us to find and/or recognize in ourselves.