Image of Mary Stewart sourced from the British Columbia Women's Institute website: www.bcwi.ca/blog/ Submitted by June Crandall, Contributing Author
This article begins a multipart series on “Mary Stewarts Collect” which is a prayer (originally called “the Collect Club for Women”) written in 1904 by Mary Stewart for a group of women intending to inspire the women in her group. Follow along each month to get the full Collect which you can also find online.
As I write this series, a few thoughts and questions come to mind. First, keep in mind, as you follow the articles, these three concepts…endurance, encouragement, and unity. So, as I was thinking about the shrinking Women’s Institute memberships and branches here are my questions. Is it because the WI Creed (most of it found in the Collect) asks too much of women? Do women feel they cannot live up to the Creed? Is it the moral way of living that the Creed proposes? Is it the challenge for the greater good that is implied that makes us uncomfortable? Do the words challenge women to follow a way of life foreign to them? Please follow the series as I explore the deeper meanings of the Collect.
“Keep Us, O Lord, from pettiness let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.”
This article begins a multipart series on “Mary Stewarts Collect” which is a prayer (originally called “the Collect Club for Women”) written in 1904 by Mary Stewart for a group of women intending to inspire the women in her group. Follow along each month to get the full Collect which you can also find online.
As I write this series, a few thoughts and questions come to mind. First, keep in mind, as you follow the articles, these three concepts…endurance, encouragement, and unity. So, as I was thinking about the shrinking Women’s Institute memberships and branches here are my questions. Is it because the WI Creed (most of it found in the Collect) asks too much of women? Do women feel they cannot live up to the Creed? Is it the moral way of living that the Creed proposes? Is it the challenge for the greater good that is implied that makes us uncomfortable? Do the words challenge women to follow a way of life foreign to them? Please follow the series as I explore the deeper meanings of the Collect.
“Keep Us, O Lord, from pettiness let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.”
The phrase “Keep us from pettiness and let us be large in thought, in word, in deed” serves as a timeless prayer for personal and shared growth. Currently, it seems that small-mindedness and trivial concerns dominate public debate and conversation. But this call encourages us to move beyond and past any self-interest and welcome a broader and more generous way of living.
So, what does pettiness mean?
Pettiness is an excessive focus on minor grievances, slights, or details that detract from the greater good (does that sound familiar?). It often sounds like gossip, or feels like grudges, or the inability to release perceived insults. When we allow pettiness to guide our actions, we restrict our potential and limit the impact we can have on those around us. This tendency not only undermines relationships but also stifles creativity and collaboration; this is an essential element of being a dedicated Women’s Institute member.
Being large in thought
To be large in thought means to foster openness, curiosity, and generosity of mind. It involves considering the perspectives of others and to pursue understanding before passing judgment and wholly dismissing those often-valuable perspectives and ideas. Moreover, we can envision possibilities, embrace diversity, and respond to challenges with wisdom thus laying the groundwork for innovation and progress, both personally and together as WI women.
Being large in word
Words have the power to build up or tear down. Being large in word means speaking with kindness, honesty, and encouragement. We can use words and language as a tool to connect and uplift and encourage vs engaging in criticism or idle chatter. Our words generate trust and inspire hope, helping to create environments where people feel valued and understood.
Being large in deed
Deeds are our values in action which we do with integrity, compassion, and courage. We must choose generosity over stinginess, forgiveness over resentment, and action over apathy. Might there be sacrifice or discomfort? Yes, but our deeds/actions ripple outward, creating positive change in our communities. Whether through volunteering, advocacy, or everyday acts of kindness, this is the essence of Women’s Institutes, Inspiring Women. The largeness of our deeds transforms intentions into tangible benefits for others. This is clear in our goal as rural women for rural women.
In conclusion, this short sentence in the greater prayer asks us to examine our motivations, to rise above the trivial, and to invest ourselves in what truly matters. By embracing this largeness, we contribute to a more compassionate, creative, and resilient society—one in which all can flourish.
So, what does pettiness mean?
Pettiness is an excessive focus on minor grievances, slights, or details that detract from the greater good (does that sound familiar?). It often sounds like gossip, or feels like grudges, or the inability to release perceived insults. When we allow pettiness to guide our actions, we restrict our potential and limit the impact we can have on those around us. This tendency not only undermines relationships but also stifles creativity and collaboration; this is an essential element of being a dedicated Women’s Institute member.
Being large in thought
To be large in thought means to foster openness, curiosity, and generosity of mind. It involves considering the perspectives of others and to pursue understanding before passing judgment and wholly dismissing those often-valuable perspectives and ideas. Moreover, we can envision possibilities, embrace diversity, and respond to challenges with wisdom thus laying the groundwork for innovation and progress, both personally and together as WI women.
Being large in word
Words have the power to build up or tear down. Being large in word means speaking with kindness, honesty, and encouragement. We can use words and language as a tool to connect and uplift and encourage vs engaging in criticism or idle chatter. Our words generate trust and inspire hope, helping to create environments where people feel valued and understood.
Being large in deed
Deeds are our values in action which we do with integrity, compassion, and courage. We must choose generosity over stinginess, forgiveness over resentment, and action over apathy. Might there be sacrifice or discomfort? Yes, but our deeds/actions ripple outward, creating positive change in our communities. Whether through volunteering, advocacy, or everyday acts of kindness, this is the essence of Women’s Institutes, Inspiring Women. The largeness of our deeds transforms intentions into tangible benefits for others. This is clear in our goal as rural women for rural women.
In conclusion, this short sentence in the greater prayer asks us to examine our motivations, to rise above the trivial, and to invest ourselves in what truly matters. By embracing this largeness, we contribute to a more compassionate, creative, and resilient society—one in which all can flourish.
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