I have debated forever about whether to even write this post...but this is my journal to be printed at the end of each year and this was definitely an event in my life that should probably be recorded.
Two weeks before the kids started school, and the exact Sunday that we were leaving after Church to take Kylee to school in St. George, I got asked during Sunday School if I could meet with the Bishop after church...with my husband! You know it's bad when they tell you to bring your husband with you. That means they need to ask for their support and approval of whatever they want you to do! I started getting the clammy hands and nervous heart. I had a little idea of what they might want, but I was pushing that idea waaaay out of my mind. I knew we were due for a new Relief Society President. But...I rationalized...I had known for weeks before they called me to be the Young Women's President...surely I would know again if this was what was coming. I was pretty convinced by the time I was sitting in Relief Society that if it was anything, I would get to be a counselor.
After church we arrived in the Bishop's office where he called me to be the RELIEF SOCIETY PREDSIDENT. This was NEVER a job I thought I would have to worry about doing. I was really shocked. So shocked that when I talked to the Bishop a few days later he asked if I was feeling better and doing OK. I really had not seen this one coming. The only thing I can say that I had felt was a few months previous I had the feeling that I should make the most of my extra time now, because something would change and I would not have as much in the future. At the time I was teaching Primary every other week! That has definitely proven to be true! I am grateful I at least got that warning. I did finish up a lot of projects and did a lot around my house during that time.
I left the Bishop's office and went home to change clothes and spend the next 5 hours driving to St. George. I ended up in the suburban with a few kids in the back doing their own thing. Chris was also driving the other car and had a few kids with him. I think I cried most of the way there. It was beginning to sink in and I was overwhelmed and scared!! I had grabbed an ensign and my scriptures and the list of all the women in our ward that the Bishop had given me. He needed names for my counselors and secretary by next Sunday. I was to be in St. George for the next 5 days getting Kylee settled so I knew I had some work to do.
Chris was only in St. George for a couple days until he left and went home to get back to work. So I had a little time to myself. I knew the first thing that I needed was a confirmation from Heavenly Father that this was truly what He wanted me to do and that this call had come from Him. Amazingly, as a tender mercy, I received that very quickly. I opened the Ensign one afternoon while the kids were downstairs watching TV in the condo we had rented and there was the First Presidency Message from President Monson. It was all about serving the Savior through our service to others. It wasn't necessarily only what the article said that meant so much to me but how I felt as I read it. I knew it was my confirmation that this call was from our Heavenly Father. Now I felt like I could move forward. And I needed some helpers!! I went over and over the list of sisters names trying to find out who was to become my Presidency!
When I got home that weekend I chose to fast on Sunday for help in finding my Presidency. Chris also gave me a blessing. I had what I felt was an amazing experience. As I sat in Sacrament meeting I looked around the room and as I got to certain sisters I could feel the impression..."she is a great sister, and could totally do the job, but it's not to be her this time". There were 3 sisters that I knew as I looked at them that it was to be them. One of them I had not ever thought about before, but as soon as I saw her in Sacrament meeting I knew she was the one! That was such a comforting witness to me that we would be OK and would have divine help as we would proceed over the next several years...that sounds like a looong time!!
I called the Bishop the next day and had a second witness that the sisters' names I was giving him were right. He told me that they had discussed each of these names as great possibilities. One sister in particular...the Bishop said they had really wanted to have be in the Presidency but decided not to mention anything to me and just see what happened. She was who I asked for to be my 1st Counselor. I love it when things work out this way!!
The rest is history in the making. I loooove the sisters I serve with in my Presidency and I am coming to love all of the sisters I get to serve. We have a great ward. I know that I will learn much and that this is definitely a stretch for me. This is not in my comfort zone, but how do we grow if we never get out of our comfort zones!!
I am just grateful for the opportunity to serve the Savior through serving others around me. I guess I am lucky really, because now the service opportunities come to me without me even seeking them out. I know it's a brief time in the whole scheme of things...I hope I can say at the end of my turn that I tried my very best. If I give it my best I know the Savior will make up the difference.
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