Letters to Sarah from Sarah

Dear Sarah,

I can’t even imagine how you feel at the moment. I don’t want to, and people tell me to look away from the current situation. I’ve decided to step back, but I still know it’s important to be aware.

What feelings should I be feeling?  I think I’m sort of relating to your very sad great-granddaughter-in-law. I don’t know what to do about it.

How should I be reacting?

Love from a descendant and another Sarah

Dear Sarah,

It’s me again. I researched you more and was wondering if you could also give me some business tips?

You seemed to constantly be hosting all kinds of guests—and under stress! I know we are the type that can laugh at things, but you seemed to master controlling a lot of feelings.

I wish you were alive to host a podcast.

Thanks and love from the 21st century.

Hi, Sarah!

You would probably never want to meet me. You’re also a Sarah I’d like to interview. I’m afraid you’d walk out of the room if I asked certain questions.

I think you’re very cool and though it sounds like you like to party, you would be very valuable in understanding issues from the past. If I were to get a correspondence, no celebs or cameras would be present.

Best wishes for you future, whatever that may be.

Respectfully from another Sarah



To Sarah:

Lots of world events have occurred since I last wrote about you. I’ve also gone through many changes; I’ve seen people step up and take matters into their own hands, similar to you.

The people I’ve seen have actual talent, but I know it’s okay to ask. I’m too afraid to write any requests though. Come to think about it, I’m more afraid to send it off. But why should I be anyway? Afterall, I have been asking lots of questions to others. Many never get back to me.

I wanted to ask you about who exactly I should ask for help on my projects. Your letters made a difference. People give lots of thanks thanks to you!

From,

Sarah

To Sarah:

Did you ever have a fall break? How did you spend it? If you were here today, how would you enjoy your short time off?

From another educator and hopeful Sarah

Marie Thérèse and Aunt Elisabeth

French Revolution. What comes to mind?

Madam Guillotine,  Marie Antoinette, and sink me–The Scarlet Pimpernel. The 1982 film adaption of the book made me laugh so hard. I was also in awe. Did such heroes exist?

There were those who smuggled nobles into other countries. The films shows that Marie Antoinette and Louis’s son survived and was taken from their prison to a safer place.

Wrong.

The sole survivor was the king and queen’s daughter, Marie Thérèse. who clung on to some hope that maybe her brother and mother who were taken away had survived.

I can’t believed I went on for years not knowing about her–or her aunt Elisabeth, the king’s sister. Elisabeth made sacrifice after sacrifice for the royal family–refusing to marry or take other available routes that would take her out of the country. She endured violent attacks with them and even posed as the queen to buy her sister-in-law more time during one ambush. It’s little wonder that Marie Antoinette and Louis counseled their children to listen to their aunt.

All too soon the royal family was taken to the Temple Tower. They endured unfair trials and living conditions grew worse. The king was executed and little Louis was taken to a separate cell. Marie Antoinette was taken away and also executed, but Elisabeth and Marie-Therese only knew the king’s fate. However, I believe Elisabeth knew her sister-in-law was dead and had a strong feeling her nephew was slowly dying. Marie Thérèse had the best chance of surviving.

The Heroic Aunt

The heroic aunt. Elisabeth de France by Vigee-Lebrun.

 
When it was just Elisabeth and Marie Thérèse in the cell, Elisabeth comforted her niece. She was an example of piety, and Marie Thérèse said much of her survival was due to prayer. Elisabeth showed and advised her niece on how to groom herself, keep the cell as clean as possible, and how to handle the guards. It was just a matter of time before Elisabeth was taken away and was prepared to die a martyr. Marie Thérèse would not find out what happened to her aunt, mother, and brother till much later. The information that her aunt watched around twenty-five nobles executed before her and was purposely saved for last would be withheld.

Marie Thérèse was eventually freed and taken to Vienna in 1795 for safety.

The sole survivor. Portrait of Marie Thérèse of France by Heinrich Furger.

The sole survivor. Portrait of Marie Thérèse of France by Heinrich Furger.

Marie Thérèse would go on to help royal refugees and raise troops against Napoleon dubbed her the “only man in the family.” She worked hard to preserve the memory of her family. The following comment about her aunt Elisabeth needs to be remembered.

“I feel I have her nature . . . [she] considered me and cared for me as her daughter, and I, I honored her as a second mother.”

I hope I have some of Princess Elisabeth in me. Her story sticks out to me. In times of tough decisions, I have thought of my role as an aunt. Princess Elisabeth is a wonderful role model.  Her story is inspiring because it can make us think of ways we can be more loving toward our families.

Jochebed: Willing to Put Her Child First

A post from nine years ago…

With Mother’s Day being last week and wrapping up the subject of Moses in Sunday School, I am going to share part of an article called “Who Do You Admire?” by Brenda Combs

Jochebed, mother to Moses, here is a woman to admire!  She had the courage to defy the Pharaoh no less and refused to condemn her son to death as so decreed.  In our society we are surrounded with individuals who give in to popularity, fads, whims, and politically correctness but here was a woman who had everything to lose yet willingly put her child first despite what society wanted her to do. She had the creativity to hide him in a basket upon the Nile and care for him once the Pharaoh’s daughter claimed him took him to her heart.  She only had him for a short time, but you can bet she taught him of the Lord’s way and loved him completely each and every second she had with him.  Finally, she placed her confidence in God after all she could do and her children are examples to all who value strength, integrity, faithfulness and righteousness.

Side Note: I love having discussions with Brenda, and yesterday we talked about the heroine, Rahab, whose bravery helped Joshua and the Israelite army conquer Canaan. And the Bible will continue with women making sure that Israel goes forward.
Coming soon A royal aunt’s sacrifice in the French Revolution. A glimpse at my book in progress about  a timeless and biblical princess plus Poet’s Profile.

Moses in his Mother’s Arms was painted by the British artist Simeon Solomon (1840–1905)

Women’s Day Poems 2023: Limericks About Chocolate, Quiet Protestors, and Yoga Pants

So sorry I didn’t post on March 8. It would have been perfect, of course. I wasn’t in any rush though.

I’m thankfully not in with the feminist lot, but hopefully you can see I am all for girl power. That’s why I wrote about how peculiar some old, respectable candy companies have now become, and how quiet protesters are more powerful than they’re given credit.

I decided to include some poems I wrote at the chiropractor’s office, too. It’s a place where I try to feel physically empowered. And as tribute to the hard core suffragettes who apparently really loved pants, I also wanted to showcase my yoga pants poem.

Chocolates

Milton died with sweet chocolate fame

So he is not the one to blame

That his company

Gave the mob the knee

And poisoned his sweet chocolate name.

When Hamilton met Aaron Burr

Neither knew what their futures were

Nor would Milton foresee

That a bar of candy

Would have the words she/her.

The Lady in Blue

There was an ex-princess who liked to sue

Who wanted to sue the lady in blue.

For that lady was wise

And looked away from her eyes

Which so many others wanted to do.

Limericks From the Chiropractor’s Office

More Weight

Give me more weight; I can take it

Or maybe I’ll just have to fake it

The crybabies cried

My brain almost fried

Give me more sleep, and I’ll make it!

Payday and Yoga Pants

During stim, I dreamt of payday

And how it’s a long way away.

Will I get the chance

To buy yoga pants

Or will bills keep me at bay?

All images from pixabay.com

Poems copyrighted by Sarah Patten, 2023

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth Barrett Browning!

I was thinking of Elizabeth Barrett Browning last night. It’s probably because as she got older as a single maid, she got more ill, but she managed to go on with her work and eventually found true love. I wrote her a note last night/this morning. I decided just to do a little research and read she was born March 6!

So of course, I’ll have to include that birthday note to her!

I still can’t believe it! I was writing today thinking I should post my note, and I was determined after I discovered it was Mrs. Browning’s birthday!

Letter

EBB~

Elizabeth Barrett Browning-I keep you in mind as I age. Maybe when I’m 40, I’ll be married, but if not, what can I do? I’m not married yet or have your talent, and so it’s depressing. You had a lot going for you, but I bet it was hard. I have spinal and head problems myself. Perhaps I’m…of what was I going to say? No, I won’t ever know your genius or exact pain, but somehow you give me inspiration and my heart reaches out to you because you triumphed when it came to love. No one ever could have predicted what you ended up doing–eloping with such a seemingly eccentric poet. Maybe your husband eloping with someone–but not you! It’s cool that he took a chance on a 35-plus-year-old woman.

Birthday wishes,

~A 35+ woman 

P.S. Upon further research, I’ve discovered just how much you fought for causes with all you had. So it’s not surprising that when you found the one, you went for it. 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her husband, Robert Browning

Further Thoughts

I noticed I lost my thoughts in the middle of the letter. I really might be getting senile.

Anyway, I don’t have enough thoughts presently to even write a poem, but hopefully Elizabeth Barrett Browning would think this post is good enough.

Happy birthday, Mrs. Browning!

Images

Birthday cake image from pixabay.com, public domain.

Photograph of EBB and Robert Browning, public domain.

Engraving EBB, engraved by Thomas Oldhan Brown, public domain.

The Queen’s Name

The queen’s name is precious to me.

Louis XVI

My tenth grade word history book inferred Marie Antoinette was a careless spender. A novel I read in college portrayed her as a loose woman.

Of course that’s been years, and through surprising study and realizations, I came to discover that the messages those writers conveyed were lies. I usually roll my eyes every time a piece of entertainment comes out about Marie Antoinette because it includes slander–and the filmmakers make lots of money from it.

Usually, I can get over it to a reasonable degree. After seeing a recent trailer, though, I can’t this time. I immediately wanted to find production and say:

In the name of all that’s good, stop!

Stop defaming the name of Marie Antoinette.

Stop defaming the name of her husband, Louis XVI.

Stop defaming the names of their faithful friends and family.

Stop it!

As an American, I feel a strong inclination to make these strong requests. Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI contributed generously to the Americans during the Revolutionary War. I enjoy many freedoms, and so I feel that Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI’s efforts should be recognized and honored—and no more lies!

To those in the entertainment industry, academic circles, and different types of influencers  who encourage these crude rumors–please, please stop.  


“Portrait of Marie-Antoinette at Temple” by (maybe after) Alexander Kucharsky

Why I Admire the New Testament’s Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

If I could hang out with anyone in the Bible, it would be the siblings, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. It’s because their house sounds the most fun–and peaceful. They are relatable. When the mistress of the house, Martha, got stressed (which happens to me all the time), it’s neat to see how Christ reached out to her when he said,

Martha, Martha, thou art careful and trouble about many things.

Jesus (Luke 10:41)

Jesus reached out to Mary and Lazarus as well.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

John 11:5

The three siblings worked together to maintain a refuge. Their house was outside of Jerusalem, in the town of Bethany, where Jesus, and his disciples, would visit to take a breather. It was a place to be comfortable. Family trying to work together, who are imperfect, and yet find peace in Christ, sounds like a great place to be!

Mary and Martha tending to their brother Lazarus, who is ill.

In fact, four days after Lazarus died, Mary and Martha still had visitors ready to comfort them and who would witness the extraordinary miracle about to take place when Jesus arrived. Jesus cried with the mourners. But before that extraordinary miracle, we’re treated–and comforted– by one of my favorite scriptures,

Jesus wept.

John 11:35
Christ Comforts Mary and Martha

The onlookers were moved how Jesus wept with them, and many believed in Christ when Lazarus came forth from the dead. I infer that some of those observers were prepared to believe because Mary and Martha both talked how they believed in Jesus having mighty power and that he was the son of God. Mary and Martha–as well as Lazarus–were good examples of service to the community that led to people noticing their beliefs.

Each sibling contributed to make sure Jesus felt welcome. At another house in Bethany, Mary washed his feet, a very sacred ordinance–and with expensive ointment–which made Judas complain that she was wasting money. Oh, Jesus had a talk with him–informed him this is a sincere service that would be remembered. The beginning of the conversation included Jesus saying this,

Let her alone; why trouble ye her?

Jesus (Mark 14:6)

That is so perfect! Jesus gave Judas and others present a much needed talk while standing up for a friend. It’s easy to see why Jesus loved this family, and they loved him.

I love this family because they remind me of how I personally feel at certain times. The family also reminds me of certain family members, and friends that feel like family members. Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and those I just mentioned are such powerful examples of what I hope to be. I hope to be like them in their conviction, faith, and selfless acts of service.

Further reading:

Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany” An in-depth scholarly article about the family by Marg Mowczko.

“Mary, Martha, and Lazarus” Summary of the siblings’ interactions with Christ from the website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Mary and Martha, Sisters of Bethany” A past post from this website.

Hatshepsut: Nearly Erased From History, But Why?

This question started out at the airport. But it started with the Internet search, “pharaoh during Moses’ time.” I’m still wondering what Moses’ time in Egypt was like, and I was surprised that Hatshepsut was mentioned in a possible timeline.

She was included in the article, “Who Were the Egyptian Pharaohs During the Time of Moses?” The article discusses Alfred J Hoerth’s book Archaeology and the Old Testament where he presents an interesting timeline, and Rameses II–a pharaoh usually included in Moses’ story–isn’t that present. Instead, the article talks about the possibility that the pharaoh that eventually let the slaves go was Thutmose III, the stepson/nephew of Hatshepsut.  

It’s said Thutmose III was responsible for making Hatshepsut disappear from history.

What I mean by “disappear” is that it was him who tore down her monuments, hid her achievements, and had her pictures scratched out from the wall art.

Back to the airport, I went to YouTube to a Horrible Histories’ sketch I vaguely remember watching about Hatshepsut.

If the video is taken off the Internet, the history you “learn” from it is that Hatshepsut ruled for nearly 22 years, but was probably murdered by her stepson, and then he erased her from history. He was super mad.

It’s a great story, and I love Horrible Histories. But I decided to do a more thorough search.

Well, it was a quick search. My plane was boarding shortly. I scanned some information, and the only information I remembered was she made her stepson head of the army.

I thought about that fact for the whole flight.

Taking a Dig?

So, after I got to my destination and during some free time, I watched a documentary titled Hatshepsut: Secrets of Egypt’s Lost Queen. It’s a about archeologists and other historians examining her life and mummy candidates to see if they could find her.

What stood out to me most was the excitement of those involved in the project. I totally get it. You want to meet a person in history so badly, and this is chance to get close! There were discovered, little trinkets probably owned by Hatshepsut, and I would love to get my hands on something owned my one of my historical heroes!

And of course I was impressed how they narrowed the mummies to one candidate.

If you accept that candidate to be her, then Hatshepsut wasn’t murdered. (Sorry, Horrible Histories.) The documentary reports she died from a tooth infection/disease. Other reports showed diabetes or bone cancer. Whatever the case, she wasn’t killed by someone else.

Then the documentary shifts to a team also looking at certain wall art where they discovered where her images had been. But the images had been scratched away, and they had been replaced with images of Amenhotep II, who happened to be the son of Thutmose III.

The commentators said this action was probably taken for Amenhotep II to have a stronger claim to the throne, and that the throne is usually passed down from father to son.

Plus, Thutmose III didn’t go on a rampage right after her death to destroy Hatshepsut’s legacy. He removed her from history when he got older. Like two decades later. There’s a good chance that Thutmose III wasn’t taking a dig at his stepmother.

She wasn’t the only ruler carved out of Egyptian history–even men were. It was a strategic move to avoid future conflicts. It is sad, but that’s the way it was.

If the documentary was right in their claims, I’d like to imagine she celebrated when found.

Wrapping It Up

Gathering other information, Hatshepsut prepared her stepson very well to rule. I’ve concluded that Hatshepsut practically gift-wrapped Egypt for him.

To Thutmose III With Love, Hatshepsut

Ancient Egypt rulers were unlikely to predict the way good technology that was to come. (I’m always surprised with new tech that comes out myself.) Maybe Thutmose III meant to do a sloppy job. But that’s just a speculation.

I believe Hatshepsut and Thutmose III were more of a team than enemies.

Other Thoughts

In one of Simon Whistler’s videos on Hatshepsut, he reflects on remembering Hatshepsut, and how she was unsure how or if she would be remembered.

In case you didn’t make it through this whole video, Mr. Whistler quotes the female phaoroh saying:

“Now my heart turns this way and that, as I think what the people will say. Those who see my monuments in years to come, and who shall speak of what I have done.”

Hatshepsut

I think Hatshepsut’s story offers hope people who think they’ll be forgotten.

But the forgotten part can be temporary…even if thousands of years go by!

Father’s Day, 2022

It’s wonderful reading through Dad’s journals. (None of us, kids, have read the ones in recent years, though…) It’s important and necessary. When we have a question about what happened on a certain day, the solution is to go to Dad’s journal.

It’s fun discovering my mom’s entries in his journals too. So, the days following after I was born, both my parents wrote in my dad’s journal. (It’s wonderful to see how well my parents work together.) My dad wrote some technical stuff and probably how great it was that I was born. (I just remember reading about my weight, size, etc.) My mom wrote that when my dad found out he had a daughter, that he “cried with joy.”

My dad’s written daily in a journal for longer than…well, for a long time. I would write on and off in my journal growing up, but it wasn’t ’til 2007, after I heard a General Conference talk by President Henry B. Eyring, that I was more motivated to write every day. I really tried, got frustrated, but thanks to my dad’s unwavering example, I’ve succeeded for the most part (I’ve just missed a few days) the last fifteen years.

I’m happy to find answers in my own journal entries. But I still rely heavily on my dad and his journals when I have certain questions. Valuable examples include his details about a car accident I had, a post on my blog, my surgery (I wrote like one sentence entries; he wrote a way longer-and funnier- account), etc.

Thanks to his journals, mine, and those who have written about him, it’s easier to recall events as well as realize how much my dad loves me.

I also want to add that pictures and videos have also been valuable records. Though people can get annoyed when taking pics, you have to admit, you’re grateful for them later!

Taken at a daddy-daughter activity…a few years back.

Mother’s Day Eve, 2022

Instead of giving my mom a gift, my mom gave me an extraordinary gift yesterday. (And now I feel guilt!)

My folks seemed to call out of the blue–I have a feeling it was inspired though. My dad handed my mom the phone as he had something he supposedly needed to do at the moment (I think it was a prompting), so I could talk to my mom.

I was so relieved to hear her voice, and then I let my frustrations I had been holding in the last couple weeks just pour out.

My mom gave me the gift of her listening to me. She also gave her time.

Even though I couldn’t see her, I was ready to picture her wagging her finger at some of my terrible feelings that have crept up in the last couple weeks. She didn’t.

I then pictured her nodding and having that look of understanding. I could see it when I paused. She listened with empathy and totally got where I was coming from. I felt like a little kid, stomping my feet as I said, “It’s not fair!” She didn’t seem to mind though.

Once my inner Debbie Downer vanished, my dad came back on the phone. My mind was clear, and we could all have a reasonable and uplifting conversation.

My mom listening was so powerful! And she does it all the time by the way.

She can lift a burden within minutes! It just comes naturally.

I love you, Mom! Happy Mother’s Day!

Photos from personal collection except the yellow flowers that come from pixabay.com.

Mothers vs. Voldemort and Other Bad Guys

To continue my thoughts about mothers being the ultimate influencers, I want to direct attention towards the moms in the Harry Potter series. JK Rowling made mothers a central theme, and the examples she uses are so life like.

JK Rowling has said that a driving force in writing the Harry Potter series was trying to cope with her mother’s death. The mothers move the plot along, and Rowling proves mothers can have the strongest influence over someone’s life. Some of the mothers in the overall story are horrible, and others are great heroines.

The Leading Ladies

The most important one is obviously Lily Potter, who sacrificed herself for Harry. In contrast, her sister, Harry’s aunt Petunia Dursley, shows her distain toward Harry, and encourages her husband and son to join in abusing Harry.

Of course, Mrs. Weasley, Harry’s surrogate mother, makes us feel so comfortable; yet, she shows us time and time again, she’s no pushover. That’s most evident when she kills Bellatrix Lestrange–perhaps the dark lord’s most loyal follower–after Bellatrix nearly kills her daughter.

We learned in The Half-Blood Prince that Voldemort’s own mom, Merope, abandoned him after his birth because she had no will to live. When Harry wonders why Merope, who had magic to save herself, didn’t choose to be there for baby, Dumbledore reminds Harry that Merope had been through unspeakable suffering, and “she never had your mother’s courage” (page 262)

Dumbledore himself had complicated issues with his own mother. Then, Snape, had a mother who was abused, but he discovered how powerful love is through Harry’s mom. (I’ll make a point here to say neither Snape nor Voldemort’s mothers really had anyone in their corner, thus showing the necessity of mothers receiving support.)

The Unexpected Heroine

The mother that surprised me the most, though, was Narcissa Malfoy–the mother of Draco Malfoy, Harry’s biggest school enemy.

But really, I shouldn’t have underestimated Mrs. Malfoy. Draco’s parents went to great lengths to get him whatever he wanted; using money and corrupt influence to position their son to popularity and good stuff multiple times. We witness Mrs. Malfoy working behind the scenes; most notably going to Snape to ask him to protect her son in secret so Voldemort wouldn’t know.

Toward Harry, she was cold, cruel, and threatening.
But then, to see if her son is safe at the end of The Deathly Hallows, she must save Harry.

For me, the moment she checks to see if Harry is alive is one of the most touching scenes in the book.

“You”

In the movie, Narcissa boldly approaches the playing-dead Harry. It’s acceptable for the screen, but in the book, Voldemort calls on her, just calling her “you” to check on Harry’s current state.

Then we read, “There was a bang and a small shriek of pain. ‘Examine him. Tell me whether he is dead.’ ” (page 725).

Harry and the reader have no idea who “you” is, (but know “his heart was thumping traitorously,”) until turning the page and are relieved after a few lines.

Shielded

When I read the lines, “Hands, softer than he had been expecting, touched Harry’s face” the first time, I relaxed a little bit. Then when reading, “Is Draco alive? Is he in the castle?” I was a little shocked but totally relieved! I was also touched by the line, “…her head bent so low that her long hair shielded his face from the onlookers. “

Shielded.

Harry’s mother had shielded him from the killing curse, and years later, another brave mother shielded him from Voldemort possibly performing it again at that moment.

I find it a little funny when Mrs. Malfoy announces to the crowd that Harry’s dead. It’s because of the perfect irony. I mean goodness gracious!

At the beginning of Harry Potter’s story, Voldemort actually gives Harry’s mom the option of moving aside before he has to kill her to get to Harry. Then he picks another mother–the mother of another boy who could have died at his hands–to check on his sworn enemy? Lord Voldemort is a complete idiot.
The Malfoys are dangerous and untrustworthy, but I was impressed with Narcissa never becoming a Death Eater (unlike her husband and other family members) and saving both Draco and Harry.

There’s the question if she would have saved Harry if it had not been for her wondering of Draco’s fate. Like in the book, I don’t think she would willingly do Voldemort’s bidding by eagerly volunteering–I mean she never received the scary Death Eater’s tattoo.

But whatever the case, her action of lying to the most dangerous dark wizard of all time, is impressive. This girl is good/bad. Super sneaky, smart, but most importantly, she was a true mother–something Voldemort still couldn’t grasp, even though years before, a mother had also brought about his downfall.

Voldemort gets what he deserves for his crimes–especially when it comes to disrespecting mothers!

True Morals

Though Harry Potter is a fantasy series, it reflects strong realities of the sorts of people one can expect to meet in life.

The Harry Potter series is a brilliant example of how some of the most powerful influencers are mothers. I can say amen to how the heroic mothers acted; sometimes well composed, sometimes ballistic, and sometimes acting gentle and making a few quick calls to save their babies–or another mother’s baby.

Images from pixabay.com

Mothers: The Ultimate Influencers

Ah, March. Good days to celebrate. St. Patrick’s Day. Women’s Day. Anniversary of the organization of the Relief Society, the largest women’s organization in the world. Birthdays.

Plenty of reasons to celebrate the third month. I have to say in the last couple years, though, March has become a tough month for me. Especially last year.

I felt under attack by a really bad guy. A friend was under attack; I suspect due to the strength of my friend’s mother, whom the really bad guy was afraid. I turned to God to deliver me out of the heck I was experiencing. The matter eventually was resolved. It came after many prayers and tears–and most likely a certain mother stepping in. She made a few calls, and soon I was delivered.

A couple months later, I was suddenly sick. I hadn’t realized I had vomited, but the sound of a text message from my mom woke me up. The whole mother’s intuition thing is real, no doubt. Her text saved me.

The role of mothers is divine. They come to the rescue all the time. And all sorts of people know it. Both good guys and bad guys.

Nuclear families are being attacked; the attackers know strong mothers and fathers hold a great influence. The attackers a lot of times hide in groups that are anti-family. The anti-family groups’ standout strategy is to take out and take power away from parents.

Solid parents are so cool–even if they seem embarrassing at the time! I think how my mom brought lunch to me in second grade a few times after I forgot it, or stood up to the worker at the airport to let her help me repack my bags so we didn’t have to pay a fine. Or my parents paying and driving me to extracurricular activities, constantly helping with homework–which really ticks off the anti-family groups. And I’m just giving less than 1% of the things my folks have done for me! My parents are superheroes!

Look around this site of super heroes. The last post about Zipporah gives some insight on such a super woman from the Bible. Click here to read Exodus 4 :24-26 and be sure to read the side notes that clears up a confusing story where she has to step in for her husband so the family can be safe. (Moses is still super. They made a good team and definitely were both deliverers! And click here to read Brenda’s post about Moses’ mom–his first deliverer!)

The women whom didn’t biologically become mothers that are featured on this website, show that they’re the most intimidating when they too displayed mother bear protection. I’ve seen it in real life too! It’s awesome!

It’s well known mothers and maternal figures are key to raising up leaders. But man, this last year was tough, and when I saw these average moms kick butt to save me, I realized these women are actually extremely extraordinary! They can work behind the scenes quietly, and make a huge impact without making a public display.

I can’t get over it! Thank you to all moms out there who are doing their best. Seriously, how do you do it?

Featured photo from pixabay.com.