At Washington's Foundry United Methodist Church, Mrs. Dole met a pastor who urged her to join a spiritual-growth group that met on Monday nights not far from the White House. I began to redefine perfectionism the way my grandmother had taught it. Some people define strength as independence, self-reliance and resourcefulness. But I have learned that real strength, inner strength, comes from a dependence on the one source who can replenish life with the power that comes from above. What counts is what God chooses to do through us.
Life is more than a few years spent on self-indulgence or career advancement.
It's a privilege, a responsibility and a stewardship to be met according to his calling. This alone gives true meaning to life. With her priorities restored to proper order and with a more balanced lifestyle in place, Mrs. Dole accepted President Reagan's invitation in 1983 to serve as Secretary of Transportation. And in 1989, President Bush appointed her Secretary of Labor. I am able to make a difference for people with dire human needs.