December 2009 Visiting Teaching Message

The topic for this month is "You can nuture through compassionate service."

You can findthe message at http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=true&locale=0&sourceId=9e7b26a816c25210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Wow, before even reading the message, and only reading the topic, I am feeling like I am on the right wavelength because I have had a thought in my mind about Christmas and the things you do at Christmas time. I even designed and printed some bookmarks with this very thought in mind, last month, in preparation for the Craft Fair and boutique I am participating in. I have even printed and laminated these bookmarks to have at the fair, just in case any of the women who read my blogs happen to drop by and want one. I won't be offering this bookmark on this blog so you'll just have to come to the fair and you can see it.

The first two quotes in the message are these:

• President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency: “Disciples of Christ throughout all ages of the world have been distinguished by their compassion. … In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers” (“Happiness, Your Heritage,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2008, 119, 120).


• Barbara Thompson, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency: “We need to rescue ‘all that is finest down deep inside of [us]’ so that as daughters of God we can do our part to build the kingdom of God. We will have help to do this. As Joseph declared, ‘If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.’
  “Let us bear one another’s burdens, mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort, and thus keep the covenants we have made [see Mosiah 18:8–10]” (“Now Let Us Rejoice,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2008, 116).

The last scripture reads.... "Let us bear one another's burdens, mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort...." This morning, I checked my email and I received an email from my sister telling me her mother in law had just passed away this morning. She told me how her sweet husband was grieving as well as the rest of his family. This family has suffered many significant losses over the past few years. First my sisters Father in law passed away and shortly after that, a sister in law also passed away. Then about a year ago, the husband of another sister in law died suddenly at a ward outing, sitting in his car, from a heart attach leaving his wife and several children. Now, the Mother and Grandmother of this family just passed away this morning.

You can imagine the loss that the children and grandchildren who are left, must be feeling. So many heartaches in such a short time. Yes, we do have the eternal perspective that helps us to understand where our loved ones are and the state that they are in, but there is still a huge loss and a hole in their hearts that can't be filled.

How do we comfort those who stand in need of comfort. What can we do and what can we say? I don't know if you are like me, but when these times come around, I find myself at a lack of words to express myself. What do you say to comfort someone who has experienced so many losses in such a short while? To top it off, there have been so many other difficulties that this entire family has faced over the past few years. My sisters husband has been ill and in pain for so many years, I have lost track, but he has never lost his faith and he continues to endure.

I am going to leave my thoughts with that question and maybe you sisters can help me write the answers. Help me to come up with ideas that we as sisters can provide comfort, and compassionate service when we need to. And a side note, how do we give the support, love and service to family and friends that live far away, and in different states?
I would love to hear your comments, and experiences. Thank-you, Katie G.