Holding Our Tongues

Fall Coming Like Three Sisters by Brian Kershisnik

I think a lot about how to be a better woman.

Two things I've read recently have my wheels turning.

Joseph Smith said:
“… Search yourselves—the tongue is an unruly member—hold your tongues about things of no moment—a little tale will set the world on fire.”

Cjane wrote:
"But (a woman's) powers are the most potent when used to love other women. To support. To carry. Lift. Encourage. Serve. Fight alongside. And in my experience, this is also the hardest part about being a woman. There are forces at work designed to turn woman against woman in an effort to completely destroy the massive amount of good we can do when united. But I also know that I feel the strongest as a woman, when I am helping another woman, or being helped by another woman--whether she is someone I know, or a someone who lives across the world."

I've been asking myself:
We all know how catty and back-biting and vicious women can be. Why do we ever participate in such conversations or observe in silence?

What kind of things could we be accomplishing when united with other women?



It's so easy to be annoyed by someone or judge another wrongly. Even easier to criticize someone, then justify such talk by finishing up with a 'but bless her heart.'

It's harder to forgive, choose not to be offended, collaborate with someone we don't 'click with,' and be the kind of woman who never speaks ill of another.

But that is exactly the kind of woman I am determined to be.

--Anne