My blogs tend to be more philosophical and less day-to-day. Probably that comes with the differences in my life's activities. Merle and I are both going to a chiropractor to relieve back pains. I had my very first massage yesterday. All I could say afterwards was, "It was interesting. I' much rather write about the fun things Wes and Eric do, but it's not my turn.
So, I am now in my 78th year. As look back over the callings I’ve held I see a pattern of progress in myself. Callings are for the development of the person called, more than for the persons being taught. I developed an attitude change.
If I could do one calling over again, it would be the time I was called to teach one BeeHive girl in San Francisco Ward. She was the only one in her age group, and she only came part of the time. I was newly married, age 20 and worked a full time job. I did not feel like preparing lessons for one girl. It seemed like a waste of time. I didn’t go out to her home to meet her or her family, or send notes or a birthday treat. I don’t think I even knew when it was. After a year and a half we moved away and I was mercifully released.
What could I have done? –some of those things I mentioned. I could have found out what school she attended, her interests, whether she played sports, did she have a pet? Did she play an instrument? What kind of family did she have? Was the family active or less-active? Did she need a ride to M.I.A.? Did she have a friend she could bring with her? Might that friend have joined the church?
How might this have benefitted me? I grew up in a less-active family. My BeeHive Teacher was a great example, who helped me become active. I was shy and might have learned some social skills. I would have learned basic gospel lessons I had missed out on while growing up. This girl might have become the “little sister” I grew up wishing I had.
In the intervening years I’ve held lots of “important” callings–stake dance director, ward Primary President, Social Relations teacher in Relief Society, stake newsletter editor, ward Family History Consultant and teacher, ward missionary , to name several,.plus my husband and I served a full time mission. I’ve held responsible full time work. I’ve been a volunteer in my community, written newspaper columns and taught community education classes.
My latest calling came unexpectedly about six months ago. I was simply asked to write letters to five women in our ward who didn’t want visiting teachers or home teachers. I thought, “Okay, I can write.” It was the kind of calling where I didn’t report to anyone. No one in the ward saw the letters, so I didn’t get any feedback as to what I wrote or how I wrote it. It was kind of like that first BeeHive teaching position I had over 50 years ago–a seemingly worthless calling.
But this time I thought to myself, what ways can I magnify this calling?
I decided I would share something about myself each month so they would sort of get to know me. It was not about successes, I touched lightly on trials because I wanted them to relate to me as not being a “Mollie Mormon” kind of woman. I weave a part of a Relief Society lesson into the letters, or an article idea from The Ensign magazine, or an idea from the church website. I tell them about upcoming ward activities. I give them my contact information each time and invite them to call or email me if they would like to.
Another way I make the letters special is to use actual photos such as a still life photo of vegetables in my own kitchen. I sometimes use stickers like on the 4th of July, and I looked for fun stationery to print my letters on. I always address them by their first names and sign my first name at the end. No letter is longer than one side of one sheet of paper.
In preparing for each month I may get an idea and take it to the Lord. If He wants me to use that idea, materials, quotes, scriptures, poems or whatever start coming to me. After I write the letters I pray about the sisters who receive them and ask the Lord to open their minds to the gospel truths they include. My rule of thumb is that they must be in the mail by the 15th of each month, preferably by the 10th. I want the women to start expecting the letters..
It is a privilege to write these letters. I do not withhold my stamps, stationary or ink, or ask to be reimbursed. I haven’t had any replies so far, but hope I am planting seeds that will take root in their hearts.
