Letter from my Mom to her daughters

Oh my! To my daughters...who are born of a "grasshopper"...who always wished she was an "Ant". But, now at almost "50" am embracing my "grasshopper-ness" And if we could change the ending of the infamous fable, it would go like this...The grasshopper is on her way home, it is winter and snowing, and the grasshopper is having conversations in her head and is wearing a light jacket, because she can't find her coat(which is burried under the debris in her room and there was no time to look, because she stayed up too late talking with friends and helping them and connecting with them) therefore leaving no time to get organized for the next day. She grabbed a piece of cold pizza and soda as she walked out the door because she didn't stop at the store the night before....she didn't "feel" like it.(you see grasshoppers do what they "feel")Then suddenly the door opens where the "Ants" live and the Queen Ant appears and says to the Grasshopper, "We are bored to death" can't you plan a party or read us a story? And our teenagers are trying to decide what to do, do you have any ideas?? The grasshopper replies that she has lots of ideas for all of them and would love to stop her day and come inside to "talk" and "share" her ideas! So, the ant invites her into a spotless kitchen table with paper and pencil(she didn't even have to look for it) the ant also offers her some "home-made" bread fresh from the oven! The Ant asks the Grasshopper how do you come up with all these ideas? "They come to me while taking long hot baths, or I find them on the internet while searching for something "new" and "Fun".(when I actually should be doing the laundry) Girls- I am a "Grasshopper"-I work hard at relationships, teaching, performing to you when you were little, and learning about stuff. I am a grasshopper-It takes me months to dismantle Christmas because its more fun to bring out than put away.(my tree is still up as I write this) I am a Grasshopper- preparing for the winter is hard for me, I don't want to give up everything for a long period of time for the future when I am not certain of the future. I am a grasshopper- I like to watch people and to read "real-true" stories! I like to figure out why people are the way they are....I like to peel onions. :) I like to dance, I like to sing(other people don't like me to sing)but when you guys were little you were my favorite audience! Now, I have had to embrace and learn some "ant" traits to survive and to raise a family. Did I teach you how to be real organized-NO :( Did I teach you how to bake fresh bread-NO :( Did I show you how to have real cute, matching containers in a well decorated home-NO :( I haven't always been comfortable being a grasshopper. I always wondered if I fit in with a community of ants, or a church family of ants, or a family of ants. My discomfort I have realized came from fear of rejection, fear of disapproval, fear that the "ants" would not accept me unless I was just like them. So, I tried real hard to be an ant...most of the time. But, you know what I learned, we are all "equally human", without the atonement of Jesus Christ, our "virtues" whatever they are, whoever you are...Grasshoppers or Ants...are meaningless. Embrace who you are, play with the "Grasshoppers" and learn from the "Ants"! Don't be jealous, don't be discouraged, there is a "time and season" for everything. My prayer for my children is that they continue to take every opportunity to "become" (over time) the best "grasshopper" or "ant" they can. It's ok to be a grasshopper at times and an ant at other times. :) Just be true to who you are and to those talents and gifts that are designed just for YOU! I love you!
-MOM