A Single Woman & The Family Proclamation: It's A Personal Journey

Our next blogger Erin and I both have ties to the "singles scene" in DC.
She is a very talented woman who gives so much of herself to others. 

And I'm happy that she has agreed to share with us today.  

Here is Erin of Moments of Clarity and Chaos!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Erin, and I am a beloved daughter of heavenly parents, and,
as such, I have a divine nature and destiny. I am a woman, with an individual premortal, mortal, and
eternal identity and purpose.

My identity, purpose, and destiny will be quite different from yours. It is unique to me and designed by
my Creator. There are no flaws in His plan. It is my duty as an obedient and loving daughter to accept
and find joy in His plan for me.

I am 35 years old, and I have never been married, nor do I have children. Many of my greatest
desires, including those of wife and mother, have not been given to me (yet?). I have endured many
trials – some with more grace than others. I have learned to turn my life over to the Lord and to
always be an instrument in His hands. I realized many years ago that the Lord’s Plan for me may
not include the opportunity to serve Him with a family, or to raise children or be a wife. But that I
have the great opportunity and responsibility to serve the rest of the Lord’s children. I take great
joy in finding and discovering the many ways I can serve the Lord and I can have a very fulfilling life.

I have been told by a few too many well meaning individuals that I will be a “ministering angel” in the
next life. Or that I lost my husband in the war in heaven. (Do people really think it is somehow flattering
or comforting to be told my life will have more meaning when I die??) Which is why the Proclamation
brings great comfort to me.

As stated so eloquently in scriptures and in the Proclamation, I do have a divine nature and destiny. If
I am to remain single, never to be a mother or wife, it is because that is the way the Lord designed it.
My life is still in His hands, and He still has a purpose for me. It is my job to discover what other ways
I can serve Him and His children. I am blessed to know that while being a mother and wife is the plan
for most, that it isn’t the plan for all. And I can take comfort in that. It is not always easy to accept that
the Plan for my life is not as straight-forward and obvious as it is for some, and that I will not be given
all that I have so righteously desired. But I trust in the Lord and find joy in my own personal journey.

From author C.S. Lewis, “Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At
first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks
in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.

“But presently he starts knocking the house that in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make
sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that he is building quite a different house from the
one you thought of-throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers,
making courtyards.

“You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but he is building up a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself.”

If you need directions to find your mansion, the answers are in the Proclamation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much, Erin!

Now feel free to link-up your Family Proclamation posts from this week.
Remember to link up to a specific post address!

And remember that every link-up and comment enters you to win one of these prizes...And as always make sure you check out Chocolate today too!

Here are the party favors for this week:

I will announce the winners of the following prizes on Sunday!

a custom family tree for children displaying four generations of family names

by The Staker Store

an 11x14 print of "Para Siempre" using LDS Temple Font

Description:  "Para Siempre", means "Forever". The font is made exclusively of LDS temple parts. This print can be personalized with your family name and established/sealing date." 

by Pseuzyn's Shop

a quad Scripture Cover from To Jameson With Love

a customizable Family Proclamation Photo Album

It includes words from the entire Proclamation...You just insert your own family photos!

by Lola Jae's Ink

"I Belong" hand-stamped baptism necklace

Description:  "I BELONG 2010 stamped on one inch nickle silver disc. Attached to 24 inch silver plated ball chain. Chain may be cut down to shorter size. This item is designed with creativity and is custom hand stamped especially for you! That is what makes each piece unique." by Just Be Jewelry

Birthday Countdown Blocks

This item helps you countdown 31 days until a birthday.  Lettering is customizable.

by Lollipops and Bows

Expandable Temple Tote Pattern in PDF 

(There will be 2 Winners of this pattern!!)

by Terry Ann Heart