As a young girl I had a bright yellow apron with tiny strawberry buttons. Like most little girls, when my mom was baking and wearing her apron, I wanted to put on that yellow apron and bake, too.
The thing I remember most about this yellow apron is how it came to be mine.
I can't remember her face. And I can't remember a name. (And my mom's memory is poor, she probably can't even remember this happening.) But it was impressed upon my memory so much that it has influenced choices I make with my own children. But there was a lady who lived nearby our family. My mom used to visit this woman and she brought me along. On one of her visits, the lady told me she wanted to help make me an apron. I got to pick out the strawberry buttons. I must have been four years old.
At the time, I was too young to understand this woman and her circumstances. As an adult, I still don't know, but I have a very good feeling that this was a woman who was in need. She probably wasn't my mom's first choice of a friend; I remember my parents having a lot of other friends. I have little doubt that my mom was trying to make a difference in this person's life. I don't ever remember her coming to my house. I only remember visiting hers.
There are countless memories of tagging along while my mom went from house to house offering a helping hand, bringing meals, attending Tupperware parties to show support, and sharing her faith and talents with those who needed it. She didn't do this because she had extra time on her hands. She did this because she is a disciple of Jesus Christ and has made a promise to Him that she would bear another's burdens, mourn with those who mourn, and serve.
These types of memories don't fade. There is a lot I can't remember about my childhood, but these times seem to be stuck there. Maybe because I needed to know how impressionable service opportunities would be for my own kids. Because now as a parent, when an opportunity is there, I want my kids to be with me. I want them to see that happiness in this life doesn't come from "things" but from service.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are countless opportunities to serve. We are admonished to look for these opportunities and pray for them daily. Often times, when I pray for an opportunity to serve, I'm guided to one of my own children or even my husband and a need they have that day. Sometimes I have a feeling to call someone. And sometimes, it is to give a compliment or a smile. I have been given assignments at church that have taken as much of my time as a full-time job! There has never been a penny received in compensation! My husband worked a 14 hour day yesterday. Very normal for him. But after that long day, I got a phone call from him letting me know he was going to be late because he needed to go help someone move some furniture. There was no complaint, though I could hear in his voice it had been a long day. He came home with a smile on his face and was grateful he got off work just in time to help. My husband is also a disciple of Jesus Christ and has made a promise to bear another's burdens, mourn with those who mourn and serve.
Are members of my Church more kind than others? No. But members of my church have been taught, trained and admonished to serve their fellow men. From an early age, we participate in service projects, watch our parents care for the needs of others, we learn from scriptures how Christ served and we do our best to emulate Him. There is also the challenge from the Savior himself who admonished us to serve those who persecute us.
Just as little girls want to wear aprons and look just like their moms while baking, little children are learning from their parents example in how they live their lives. My mom didn't teach me to serve with words. That would have been very ineffective. She has taught me to serve by the way she lives her life. I hope to do the same for my kids. They live in a selfish, self-centered world. No wonder there is so much unhappiness. If I can teach them this one thing, their lives will have more meaning and they will find happiness.
Because I am a Mormon, I have dedicated my life to a life of service. For I believe that when I serve others, I am really serving my God.
Showing posts with label Visiting Teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Visiting Teaching. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Sunday, December 11, 2011
I'll always have a friend.
We were married 6 weeks before Brandon took off for the entire Spring for work! In a perfect world, I would have gone with him, but I was in the thick of my college courses and was trying to be responsible and finish my degree. So while he was basking in the sun (ha!) in Palm Springs and Kauai while filming a movie and then enjoying the sights of Wales while shooting a documentary, I was a student at BYU.
And I was alone.
Before we married, I lived with four other girls--some of my favorite people in the world! There was never a dull moment. There was never "alone" time. There was always something exciting going on and then suddenly, I found myself with a "married" social status and a "single" social life. I didn't have any married friends around me. It is challenging to fit in with other married couples when your significant other is gone for months at a time. A few times, I went back to the old apartment and hung out. Although I loved my friends, I realized I didn't fit in with the single scene. In my new ward (the congregation I was assigned to based on the location where we lived), each Sunday every pew had a couple sitting together. I sat by myself. I'm horrible at making new friends, and I just didn't. I've always been blessed with many friends--many different circles of friends! But I was terribly lonely and I found myself checking off the days on my calendar until my semester ended so I could join Brandon in Hawaii for a couple of weeks before my Spring term began.
Pathetic, I know.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an organization for women called Relief Society. It was restored in the the mid-1800's by the Prophet Joseph Smith and today, it stands as the largest organization of women throughout the world. The purpose of the society is just as its title suggests: to help the poor in spirit and administer relief to those in need. When I turned 18, I was automatically inducted into this organization because I was a baptized member of the church. But when I was 18, this meant very little to me. I didn't ever think of "relieving" anyone's burdens and I certainly didn't recognize I was a member in the organization. Within this organization, there is a program called Visiting Teaching. A pair of women is assigned to visit a sister or two (or sometimes 3 or 4 depending on the needs of the area) and each month, a visit is arranged so that the women can assess needs and deliver a short message of encouragement and hope. If there is a need, service is rendered, meals are brought in, help is given. In short, an assignment is made to be a friend.
In this new married ward, I was first assigned to visit teach with a girl who recently moved to the U.S. She had joined our church, gotten married and left her entire family in Korea. Her new husband was in graduate school at BYU and she was trying to adjust to marriage, a new language and a new country. I could not understand a word she said. Here I was, desperately needing a friend, and they assigned me to someone I couldn't even communicate with? Month after month, she called and arranged the visits with the women we were supposed to visit. We took turns giving the short message. I struggled to understand her, but after time, I learned to appreciate her so much. I quickly realized how grateful I was for her! She was an amazing person with an incredible story. She loved me and always came and found me at church and linked her arm in mine. She made me little gifts that meant so much to me. She was my friend! Not necessarily one I would've sought out on my own, but exactly who I needed. One time during one of our visits, she brought her guitar along. She sang a song and I understood every word she sang. It was beautiful. I was taking a guitar class at the time and she helped me with some technique. I found myself better communicating with her and after awhile, I absolutely loved her. She was my only friend in that ward until my brother and his wife moved in. We only lived there for a couple of years and I have no idea where this woman lives and what her life is like now. I wish I could remember her last name so I could look her up.
Any time I have moved to a new area, my first friend is my visiting teaching partner. Shy people like me find it hard to make friends; it takes time. I'm just not the outgoing type and I'm okay with that. There are 12 million plus members of my church in this world and I know that no matter where I live, I will find a friend through visiting teaching. For some reason, it always seems to be the right person for me at the time.
Because I am a Mormon, I am a Visiting Teacher. Right now, I am assigned an amazing companion and three women who I love, pray for, learn from and look forward to visiting each month.
And I will always have a friend.
And I was alone.
Before we married, I lived with four other girls--some of my favorite people in the world! There was never a dull moment. There was never "alone" time. There was always something exciting going on and then suddenly, I found myself with a "married" social status and a "single" social life. I didn't have any married friends around me. It is challenging to fit in with other married couples when your significant other is gone for months at a time. A few times, I went back to the old apartment and hung out. Although I loved my friends, I realized I didn't fit in with the single scene. In my new ward (the congregation I was assigned to based on the location where we lived), each Sunday every pew had a couple sitting together. I sat by myself. I'm horrible at making new friends, and I just didn't. I've always been blessed with many friends--many different circles of friends! But I was terribly lonely and I found myself checking off the days on my calendar until my semester ended so I could join Brandon in Hawaii for a couple of weeks before my Spring term began.
Pathetic, I know.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an organization for women called Relief Society. It was restored in the the mid-1800's by the Prophet Joseph Smith and today, it stands as the largest organization of women throughout the world. The purpose of the society is just as its title suggests: to help the poor in spirit and administer relief to those in need. When I turned 18, I was automatically inducted into this organization because I was a baptized member of the church. But when I was 18, this meant very little to me. I didn't ever think of "relieving" anyone's burdens and I certainly didn't recognize I was a member in the organization. Within this organization, there is a program called Visiting Teaching. A pair of women is assigned to visit a sister or two (or sometimes 3 or 4 depending on the needs of the area) and each month, a visit is arranged so that the women can assess needs and deliver a short message of encouragement and hope. If there is a need, service is rendered, meals are brought in, help is given. In short, an assignment is made to be a friend.
In this new married ward, I was first assigned to visit teach with a girl who recently moved to the U.S. She had joined our church, gotten married and left her entire family in Korea. Her new husband was in graduate school at BYU and she was trying to adjust to marriage, a new language and a new country. I could not understand a word she said. Here I was, desperately needing a friend, and they assigned me to someone I couldn't even communicate with? Month after month, she called and arranged the visits with the women we were supposed to visit. We took turns giving the short message. I struggled to understand her, but after time, I learned to appreciate her so much. I quickly realized how grateful I was for her! She was an amazing person with an incredible story. She loved me and always came and found me at church and linked her arm in mine. She made me little gifts that meant so much to me. She was my friend! Not necessarily one I would've sought out on my own, but exactly who I needed. One time during one of our visits, she brought her guitar along. She sang a song and I understood every word she sang. It was beautiful. I was taking a guitar class at the time and she helped me with some technique. I found myself better communicating with her and after awhile, I absolutely loved her. She was my only friend in that ward until my brother and his wife moved in. We only lived there for a couple of years and I have no idea where this woman lives and what her life is like now. I wish I could remember her last name so I could look her up.
Any time I have moved to a new area, my first friend is my visiting teaching partner. Shy people like me find it hard to make friends; it takes time. I'm just not the outgoing type and I'm okay with that. There are 12 million plus members of my church in this world and I know that no matter where I live, I will find a friend through visiting teaching. For some reason, it always seems to be the right person for me at the time.
Because I am a Mormon, I am a Visiting Teacher. Right now, I am assigned an amazing companion and three women who I love, pray for, learn from and look forward to visiting each month.
And I will always have a friend.
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