April 2012 Visiting Teaching message

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This month, my sweet partner and I went out and did our Visiting teaching.  It was her turn to present the message.  I feel such gratitude for her and the wonderful story she shared because I personally could not seem to come up with any kind of a lesson to teach with this months message.  My only thoughts were to make sure that my sisters knew that they were loved and I would ask them if they felt comfortable enough with their Visiting Teachers, that they really would call on us in their times of need.
 
My Partner shared an absolutely beautiful story of a woman who had lost one of her children in a tragic drowning accident in their home.  This woman fell into depression and could barely function.  One day a woman in her ward showed up at her door.  This woman could see the state of mind she was in and  she just jumped in and began to help do things around the house.  Each day she would call and if her voice sounded like she was still in a bad state of mind, this woman would then come over and help her sister in need.  The woman who had lost the child was in such a state for many months, that many time she was oblivious to the fact that this woman was even in her home.  Anyway there is so much more to the story, in particular about the circumstances of the women who was helping out this sister. The greatest part of the story was at the end, where my Visiting Teaching partner shared with us, that she was the woman in depression. 

This story is a must read and especially if you are struggling with a message this month like I was, this story was published in the 1997 Ensign, under the topic of "Feeding His Sheep".  Here is the direct link http://www.lds.org/ensign/1997/03/feeding-his-sheep?lang=eng  There are several stories told under this heading but her story is entitled "Reaching out with Love".  The first half of the story is sort of a preamble to the story that my partner told our sisters, so don't think you have the wrong one.  After a few paragraphs, it changes to the Paragraph that says: "Two months after we moved to England, tragedy struck our family...."  This story in the Ensign was not printed with the amount of grief my partner was feeling after the death of her child, so I must tell you that she was in such a state that she could barely function or take care of her other children and this went on for months.  So read what happens and I know you can see why I directed you to this article. 

We women have the ability to bless the lives of those around us in need, if we will.  In return our lives are blessed by our reaching out and touching the lives of those around us.  I think Heavenly Father made it this  way and made us as women, born nurtureres, with emotions and sensitivity and the ability to just jump in and know what needs to be done in any time and in any place. 

Bless you sisters, for your dilligence in Visiting Teaching.  You are filling the needs of your sisters, and you are becoming an earthly ministering angel for then.  Much Love, Katie G.