Demanding Callings

In Institute class yesterday, again we were talking about how the principle that it is by grace that we are saved, "after all we can do" does NOT mean running yourself ragged and then asking for God's help. It means consistently repenting. A woman in the class raised her hand and talked about how there are some callings in the church where you could work on your calling eight hours a day, seven days a week, and still not be done. She said that when she was serving as Relief Society President, she was praying at the end of the week, repenting of all she hadn't accomplished (although I don't agree with the term "repenting" in this case, but that is the word she used) and she decided to really be open to the Spirit about how she should proceed. She said that she was very surprised at times at what she was prompted to do. Even though she had a ton of stuff to do for her calling, and was praying for help with her calling, she would be prompted to do something completely unrelated, like an activity with her family. When she lived close to the Spirit like that, and partnered with the Lord, the work of her calling got done. Even if we are not all Relief Society Presidents or Young Women's Presidents, which of us doesn't have a demanding calling in life? Which of us doesn't feel like even if we worked eight hours a day, seven days a week, we would not get it all done? Let this wise woman's experience be a lesson to all of us. My answer to prayer yesterday after being so overwhelmed with my son and his behavior and my impatience with it, was to send him off with my husband and watch "The Sing Off" with my daughter while mending a shirt for her.