Hilary Weeks - Believe in What Youre Doing, Believe in Who You Are

Library of CongressCataloging-in-Publication Data

Weeks, Hilary.

Believein what you're doing, believe in who you are / Hilary Weeks.

p.cm.

ISBN978-1-59038-920-1 (hardcover : alk. paper)

1. MormonwomenReligious life. 2. Weeks,Hilary. I. Title.

BX8641.W442008

248.8'43088289332dc22 2008017380

Printed in Mexico

R. R. Donnelley andSons, Reynosa, Mexico

10.nbsp; 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Introduction

I have never written a book. Oh wait, Itake that back. Yes, I have; I was in second grade. It was a book about alittle brown bear named Cuddles who got lost while picking flowers in thewoods. I love happy endings, so Cuddles eventually found his way home. Ihesitate to toot my own horn, but I was also the illustrator. If I do say somyself, the illustrations were almost as good as the story line.

Considering my illustrious career as an author, you might besurprised to know that when I was invited to write this book I felt unequal tothe task. However, I accepted the challenge, and this is why: Everyone needsreminders. I dont know a single person who doesnt need a reminder now andthen. That is why we have calendars, PDAs, laptops, alarm clocks, day planners,sticky notes, string to tie on our fingers. After all the reminders aboutappointments, meetings, carpools, and deadlines, there is one reminder we needmost of all: God loves us. Inside each one of us is the need to know thatHeavenly Father is aware of us, that He believes in us, and that He understandshow hard we are trying.

Several years ago I was invited to write a song for an albumspecifically created for women. I was told that I could write about any topic Iwanted. I looked around my house and saw the piled-up dishes, the baskets oflaundry, and the scattered toys. Suddenly I knew what I would yearn to hear ifHeavenly Father could sit with me for a while and talk. I wanted to bereassured that my efforts were making a difference, that I was doing a good jobwith my family, that I was becoming more like the Savior, and that I wasfollowing the course He wants me to follow. I wanted to be reminded that I wasHis daughter and that He loved me. So I wrote the song Who You Are.

I knowyou wonder if youll ever have a day

Where the kids stay calm,the laundrys done, and the dishes are put away

And sometimes you feel likeyour days are spent and gone

And the question runningthrough your mind is, What have I gotten done?

And when you finally have amoment to slow down

At the end of your day

I know Father would say

Believe in what youredoing

Believe in who you are

Hold tight to the truththat youre a daughter of God

Believe in who yourebecoming

Believe in who you are

It may seemsimpleall the little things you do

But the lives you touchmatter so much and theres no one else like you

And Father needs you tostand tall and faithful

Be all you can be

Oh, if you could see whatHe sees

Youd believe in whatyoure doing

Youd believe in who youare

So hold tight to the truththat youre a daughter of God

Believe in who yourebecoming

Believe in who you are

When its hard to believein yourself

And you feel like yourebeginning to doubt

Remember

He believes in what youredoing

He believes in who you are

Dont lose sight of thetruth that youre a daughter of God

He believes in who yourebecoming

Hebelieves in who you are

That song is a reminder. This book is another reminder. Nota reminder of what you need to do or what you should do. But a reminder thatyou are doing better than you might think.

My hope is that you will reflect on the experiences of yourown life as you read a few of mine. Think of the discoveries you havemadeboth big and smalland allow them to shape who you arebecoming. Trust what youve learned. Believe in what you know.

And on the days when you wonder if youll ever be enough,remember: He believes in who yourebecoming. He believes in who youare.

Unexpected Answers

And verily I say unto you, whatsoeverthings ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you. Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened. 3Nephi 27:2829

Im not really what you would call awater person. I guess you could say that its because I havent had muchexperience waterskiing, boating, snorkeling, etc. But lets face it, the truthof the matter is I am in no hurry to wear a swimsuit.

On the other hand, my husband, Tim, loves the water. Onesummer Tim talked me into renting a Jet Ski and adventuring around a lake forthe day. I agreed, but only after he agreed to the rules:

No going fast

No tipping us over

No crazy business

No breaking the rules

We got a babysitter for the baby; McKenzie, who was sixyears old, came with us. It was a beautiful day to be on the water. I musteredall my courage and climbed on the Jet Ski with Tim and McKenzie, and we startedout around the lake.

It was really funat first. Then Tim got a little morecourageous and broke the rules. He tipped us over. All three of us splashedinto the water. After our life jackets brought us to the surface, we climbedback onto the Jet Ski. As I climbed on the back, something in the water caughtmy eye. It was bright pink. It was sinking! I wanted to know what it was, so Itried to catch it with my foot. No luck. I just watched as the pretty pinkthing disappeared into the bottom of the lake.

Well, we were ready to ride again when Tim noticed he didnthave the key to the Jet Ski. What does it look like? I asked.

Its a black key attached to a bright pink thing.

Oops.

I told Tim I was pretty sure we werent getting it back.

Now what? We were stuck in the middle of the lake withoutany way of starting the Jet Ski. Yeah, great idea. Lets do this every summer.We waved to other Jet Skiers to get their attention. We tried to flag down skiboats, but they were too busy having fun. (They still had their keys.) No onenoticed us. And then our silent prayers were answered. And as Heavenly Fatherso often does, He answered in an unexpected way.

That happened to me another timeHeavenly Fathersurprised me by His answer. (Dont worry, Ill come back to the other story.) Ihad been invited to open for Michael McLean during the Forgotten Carols tour. The only problem was that I would beperforming several nights for thousands of people. So? Whats the problem?Well, I was terrified of performing. I had been for years. Singing in front ofpeople made me so nervous that I would feel sick. I was constantly on my kneesbegging for the Lord to help me get through it and do a good job. He alwayshelped me and never seemed weary of my endless pleadings. And though I alwayssurvived performing, the nervousness was relentless. The thought of singing nightafter night was almost more than I could face. Early in December, before the