Happy New Year!!!

Isn't it great that a brand new year has begun, giving all of us the opportunity to get our acts together again and begin a fresh start.  I personally didn't make too many resolutions this year, because I wanted to really fulfill them this time.  I find when I make too long of a list, I always disappoint myself, so this time I am focusing on one change in myself that will have a ripple effect on other areas of my life. I am not going to tell you what that resolution is, and just get your imagination going by sharing the inspiration for my one resolution..... It is a song that my mother use to sing, when I was a child and it goes something like this....

"You've got to accentuate the positive,
Eliminate the negative,
Latch on to the affirmative,
And don't mess with Mr. In between".

Don't you just love those words?  I give them a hearty thumbs up!Well they are much  more than words for me, as they are my inspiration to becoming the a better person all the way around.  I wrote a post just moments ago on my Extraordinary Visiting Teaching Facebook page, about one of the sisters that I visit teach. No matter her adversity, she  emulates this song.  No matter how hard live has become for her, she wears a smile and never seems to utter a negative comment or thought. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful example for me, and I am her visiting teacher.  My gift to her can be friendship, a listening ear, prayers on her behalf, and service for her and her sweet husband as they need it. 

What a blessing for me to be a Visiting Teacher.  I have had another sister on my route, for about 2 years now.  We have become really good friends.  She is fun, and crazy just like me.  She has her share of adversity too, and moves forward each day with a song in her heart.  She has the voice of an angel, and I love so much to be around her.  How lucky for me to get be her Visiting Teacher.

Isn't it interesting that Visiting teaching is really a swinging door, because the blessings go both ways.  We get as much as we give.  I certainly know that I do. 

I have another sister who is fairly new to me, and I so enjoy going into her home and getting to know her.  She doesn't attend church, and I would not have normally had the opportunity to meet her if it were not for Visiting teaching. I am so glad that she was put on my "LIST" because I have just begun to scratch the surface of a smart and talented, and really nice friend.  How lucky I am to be her Visiting Teacher. 

Visiting teaching is a gift to both the giver and receiver,  that is sort of like the Energizer bunny.... it just keeps on going.  Those who don't take the opportunity they are given to get to know some really wonderful women, are really missing out.  I would like to urge you to include in your resolutions to become the kind of Visiting teacher that you would want for yourself.  Even if you don't have that kind of Visiting teacher, you can be it for someone else, and the rewards are great!

P.S. The January 2011 Message can be found at http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5233-1,00.html  The History and Heritage of Relief Society and a wonderful Scripture that you should recognize is found http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/7.45,46,47?lang=eng#44 or you can look it up here:  Moroni 7:45-47. Now go out and make someones day!  Enjoy!  Katie G.