I can't mention her name here because she would blush. Smile... She was was my first visiting teacher when I first moved to this state. I didn't have any friends or any family or in laws close by. They all lived in the city or had jobs that kept them away. I had four children under age 7 at the time. All boys and they were a busy bunch but so lovable too. I ended up having surgery and during that surgery I hemorrhaged.
My health took a major dive during the next six months. For a month I couldn't even get out of bed. She came every day and cleaned my house, prepared meals and took care of my babies. She became more to me than a Visiting Teacher. We all loved her.
On top of that she simply loved me along to being well again--six months later. Yes, she hung on for that long and beyond. If you were to ask her about it, she would deny that she did anything anyone else would have done. Through time She became a second mom to my four sons. We've helped each other through her sons mental illness challenges, kids going to college, growing pains of teenagers and weddings too! True friendship is a something I have cherished. But most of all, she is my beloved sister.
I can remember one time when Hunter needed to go to the dentist, I was suffering from partial paralysis then (I know, does it ever end your asking? LOL) She didn't blink an eye when I asked her to take him for me. She knew that I would do the same for her if I were able.
There are simple things we can do for our friends or neighbors that don't take as much time or effort though. Here are some things I've come up with over the years that can lighten someone's burden from time to time.
If your going to the grocery store and you know someone with little kids, call them and ask them if they need something at the store. Moms run out of milk and bread all the time...
*****
Call an elderly member of your congregation or family and chat with them for half an hour.
Bake or buy some goodies and take them to your next door neighbor.
Take someone's turn at the car pool.
Send an e-card to someone you've been thinking about. Those promptings are usually for a reason.
Leave an I love you note on your spouses pillow.
Leave a thank you note on your child's pillow for a job well done.
Shovel the snow in your neighbors driveway.
Offer to dry clean a missionaries suit.
Feed a missionary a hot meal.
Offer to burn copies of a missionaries pictures onto a CD so they can send it home free of charge.
Write a letter of encouragement and love to a family member or missionary.
Offer to babysit for a friend so they can have some "me" time.
*****
This list could go on and on and on! It's only as long as your imagination. I know that when we do things for others, our own pain, sadness or even loneliness seems to become less pronounced and our lives enriched. We need to go outside of ourselves sometimes to be happy.
My friend is the most optimistic person I've ever known. She never speaks ill of anyone, has never had a jealous bone in her body and expects people to actually be good! This only comes from striving to be the person that Heavenly Father wants her to be--and striving to be her best self. We can all do that.
I am so grateful for her example and the gift of true friendship over the past sixteen years. I am truly a better person for having her in my life. Be that kind of person for someone today, I know things will improve in your life if you do. Mine has been changed forever. I can't wait until she gets here!
1 comment:
Val,
I hope your overnight went well. Take care.
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