My Liahona Moment

I have written about this before, but there are times in my life when I want a moment like the ones I read about in the Liahona (previously the Ensign).  I spent so many years as a young adult, reading the stories in the magazine about people praying for a miracle, and it happening.  I think the one I have wanted the most is praying for a visiting teacher who feels prompted to come to my aid.  There have been so many times in my life when I have felt incredibly lonely, and my dream is to have a visiting teacher who answers the call to help me.

Since moving to Northville, I have not had a single visiting teacher (aka ministering sister) who cares.  I've been assigned two different companionships, but nothing.  I, on the other hand, have been a great visiting teacher, and the women I visit are my dearest friends here.  But just weeks ago, I was praying again for a Liahona moment--I wanted someone to worry about me instead of me worrying about someone else.  I know, that might seem really selfish, but not having a mom who cares, I crave the experience of a mother-figure reaching out to me.

I'm really excited to be working in Young Women again, although not as much for the YW this time as for the opportunity to work with some of the best women in our ward.  Really, I have looked at women who are serving in the ward, and the ones with whom I want to be friends are all in Young Women.  Of course, some of it could come from the fact that I met several of them at Girls Camp.

Four days before I came down with COVID, I got a call from the second counselor in the YW presidency, Diana Charles.  I know her daughter, Sadie, well from camp, but I didn't know her at all.  She had stopped my girls at church a few weeks back and told them how instrumental they were in helping Sadie feel comfortable at camp--she literally told them that they had made the experience for her.  Super sweet.

I answered the phone, and Diana promptly tells me that she's been assigned as my new ministering sister! I could hardly even believe it--I mean, she had just gotten the assignment and called me right up, whereas I had been waiting two whole years for my other visiting teachers to contact me (one of whom is in the stake RS presidency....)  She couldn't stop talking about how excited she is to get to know me, and she asked what we could do together.  I suggested lunch, and she was all over it.

Then COVID struck.  I had to obviously cancel lunch, and although I didn't want to tell her what was going on, I did.  The next night, she had made me a loaf of sourdough bread, and she brought it over along with a tub of chicken noodle soup and raw honey.  Add to this a get-well bag from my friend, Natalie (I am her ministering sister), full of tea, honey and lemons.

This was my Liahona moment.  This is where I needed some emotional nourishment, and Hannah needed some help in taking care of me, and Diana was prompted.  She continues to check in with me, and I'm so thankful.

But believe it or not, there's more.

Today is Sunday.  I was hoping to go to church, but at this point, I can't even stand, so I am stuck at home. John is in PA, and it snowed overnight and into the morning.  I knew I needed to get outside and shovel, at least so the sun could clear the driveway and walks.  I went outside onto our back deck, shoveled for about five minutes, and came in and collapsed.  I hated to admit it, but I needed to ask Hannah to clear the front driveway and walk when she came home from church.

While I was looking outside, dreading asking her after all she's done all week for me, I hoped for a ministering brother who could help.  However, our ministering brother works with me in the temple, and he's rather old.  I couldn't possibly ask him to come over.

When Hannah came home, she headed straight out.  I could hear the shovel working away.  But minutes later, I heard a leaf blower going full strength, and I could hear Harry, our neighbor, out talking to Hannah.  For the next hour, Harry, Pedro and Hannah worked on clearing our driveway and walks.  Tears have been coming easily over the last few days because I've been so sick, and because I'm on so much medication, but this time they flowed because of gratitude.  When they were done, and I took a peek outside, it was the snow clearing that I always hope for but that John never has the time to do.  Everything was clear, and the driveway is encircled in a box of snow pushed to the side.  It was such an answer to prayer that tears are flowing again.

I have been overwhelmed with this illness.  I have let go of any bad feelings I have towards Beth and her family, giving me this, but it's been a bit of a Herculean effort, especially when she keeps asking me if I'm feeling better.  No Beth, I'm not.  I get really sick when I get sick.

But today, my prayers were heard and answered.  I've had my Liahona moment.