It's the little things that make me happy I belong to a ward family. Here are some from today's church meetings:
- a little boy who is high-functioning autistic bore his testimony today. He was baptized yesterday and he said something like this, "Not everyone came to my baptism who we invited. We invited about 3 people who don't go to our ward. Not everyone came to the refreshments at my house afterwards, but if you came, you might have seen them. Did you? (pause) Um, I guess it would be okay if you could raise your hand if you did, so I would know. Okay." It was hilarious.
- After his testimony, my visiting teaching companion got up and commended him for sharing his thoughts about his baptism day. She said she knew it was hard to get up there and speak in front of everyone, and she knew he would always remember his baptism, etc. It was so sweet, and his mom commented later on how grateful she was for this woman's sensitivity.
- In our gospel doctrine class, we were discussing Jeremiah and the trials he faced as a prophet. Our teacher, whom I love, was saying that sometimes he just feels like giving up, and his trials aren't even close to Jeremiah's. His son, who just got accepted to med. school, happened to be visiting today and commented, "It's almost like a scary warning against righteousness. The more righteous you get, the worse trials you will be faced with, because that's the only way you can continue to grow." He went on to say that, of course, Heavenly Father accords us added strength to deal with these trials, but... Again, hilarious. And then another man commented that he looks to our teacher as a role model, so he'd better buck up!
- In Relief Society, our chorister knew she would have to leave at some point to go and help the primary kids, who were rehearsing for their upcoming program. She wasn't sure when she would be needed, so she asked me to cover for her if she happened to be gone during one of the hymns. Apparently, someone came to the door and summoned her during the opening song, but I didn't see. Another woman did, and just walked up to where she was standing, whispered to her, and started leading. It was just so cute, so seamless, no embarrassment on anyone's part, and she had the biggest smile on her face.
I just love how comfortable I feel among my ward family, and how everyone seems to feel equally comfortable. In fact, before sacrament meeting started, the bishop reminded us of our adult dinner from last week and how we learned that when we feel safe, we feel free to share our feelings, and that he hoped we would all feel that safety with each other. We have a shared history. We seem to feel safe enough to talk about our struggles and weaknesses, as well as our little victories. I guess this is one of my packs, as Tasha has mentioned before, and today I am grateful for it.
10 comments:
I hope to feel this way about our ward someday soon. I like my ward, am impressed with so many families in it but just haven't made strong connections yet. It takes some time for me.
I love the story of the autistic boy, that everyone loves and accepts! We had a talent show where a boy did an Umpa Lumpa dance that totally confused me. Everyone was on their feet clapping and applauding but I couldn't understand why. It seemed like a teenager making fun of the talent show to me. Later I realized he has mental disorders and my heart has been clapping for him ever since!
Great post. I've really missed being at church these past 3 weeks. Although I am enjoying the break from my callings, I miss the people a lot.
I feel that way about my ward too. I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting just last Sunday thinking how grateful I was to be there and to know these people and to feel a part of things. It's a huge blessing.
What a great post! I really feel like that with this new ward. It is so great to sit back and learn from some truly great and humble people. I love all the comments that you shared from your meeting on Sunday. It really is a blessing to have a ward family!
Interesting observations from a Sunday at church! I sometimes feel my heart swell with gratitude to be in a ward too. Other times I'm just hot and bothered by being in the hallway the whole time. Either way, it's great to know there is always a ward family behind you.
I thought that was a very sweet thing your companion did - commending him. Good to remember for future.
Great post Michelle. I wish I had had a better attitude yesterday. We have grown to love our ward--I think mainly because we know so many people. But like Elisa I haven't really made strong connections yet.
Ah...that sounds so good that you feel so comfortable. I have been in our new ward like 10 months and it just feels like a BYU married ward...since we have a lot of apartments in our ward boudries there are constantly young people moving in and out...There are a few families that I would love to get to know better, but I haven't really reached out to anyone!
I love my ward. Thanks for another great Sunday post. I feel so comfortable with the sisters in my ward. I went up to share my testimony in Relief Society and ended up crying so hard and telling them how hard life was. I love that I wasn't embarrassed by my actions because I feel love and support from the girls in Relief Society.
I love the Sunday posts. You have a great way of writing about everything. We loved our ward too, so much it was worth it to stay in a basement apartment for 2 1/2 years until we could find a home and become real members of the ward. I think this will always be the ward where we turned into a real active family and feel like we belong (most of the time).
You know, the last several weeks I have started to finally feel a connection with my ward. (It takes me a bout two years to feel like I'm really part of a ward!) Maybe it's the last split, which I was so sad about, but for which I am so grateful now. Sunday has become a day I look forward to every week--even Sacrament meeting, which we all know, with kids, is no fun.
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