This last week was Thanksgiving. For the last little while I have been
thinking about people who have touched my life at important times, and realized
that many of them may not realize how significant their action was to me or that they made a difference in my life at all. It brought to mind how sometimes things that
seem like little things to one person can make a world of difference to
another. So I wanted to publicly mention
them here because they have had such an impact on my life. They are in no particular order, and I am
purposefully not including my husband and our family because that would take
WAY too much space in this post.
When I was newly married we attended our “young married
adult” ward for the first time. I was
young and felt so very out of place and alone.
I sat down in Relief Society and the Relief Society President came over
and sat by me, put her arm around me, and welcomed me to the ward. For her that was a little thing – for me it
was huge! And speaking of presidents, I
served under many wonderful women auxiliary presidents who patiently and
lovingly taught me through their examples how to lead with love and how to
serve well. This was priceless when I became the president of an auxiliary.
When I was about 9 I was a convert to the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had been
raised in a religious family but never really understood that you could pray
for help. One day we had a family of church
friends over at our house and I lost my little purse that had my money in
it. I told the friend that was my age that I had lost it and didn't know what to do. He suggested that I pray about it.
New concept!! I did, and very
shortly thereafter remembered where it was.
That was a powerful lesson for me.
My best friend in high school had no idea what an example
she was to me of how to work. We served
together in ward responsibilities, played the piano together in Jazz Band, and
served together on Seminary Council. Her
example was truly life changing for me.
I had surgery in high school and was in the hospital for
several days. A friend of our family
came and spent an afternoon in the hospital with me and was just THERE so that I would not be alone. Another time I had
surgery in my 30’s – I knew who the anesthesiologist was but he didn’t know
me. As the medicine started to work I
told him that it was painful. He was
truly compassionate in his response to me and I felt of his kindness. We later ended up living in the same
neighborhood and I have never forgotten his kind and gentle care.
Our youngest daughter became critically ill when she was
20 months old. A number of people helped
us through that difficult time, but the two most touching were my friend
who came and held my hand at the hospital as we could hear my daughter’s cries down
the hall during a spinal tap, and the kind neighbor who, through his ties with
the local airline was able to provide tickets for my husband to fly up to
Primary Children’s Hospital to be with us after our life flight adventure, and
then to also provide tickets for us to fly home instead of having to try to
make the long drive back.
We lost a grandchild to death shortly after birth 2 years
ago. One day at church not long
afterward I had to leave Sacrament meeting and go sit in the hall because I was
having such a hard time emotionally. A
member of the ward saw my struggle, came over and just touched my shoulder and
gave me a smile before he walked off. He
had no idea how much I just needed that reassurance.
There have been a multitude of others – from little
things like a visiting teacher coming and sitting by me in church just when I
felt like I needed a friend, to a friend leaving a note on my windshield of my
car, and more.
It is not only in the sad times, though. Those special touching memories are there in
the happy times. It’s the person in the
grocery line that smiles and chats with you for a minute, or the neighbor that
takes the time to ask how your “away” children are doing. It’s the home and visiting teachers that are
faithful in their visits and care. It is
the friend from the past that takes a minute to drop you a quick note or email
just to check in and let you know they are thinking of you. And don’t forget the friend who knows you
need a chocolate fix and provides!!!!
Several years ago I started an album of special
notes/letters I have received. It has
now turned into several albums and those are so very dear to me. There are so many people in my ward and
neighborhood who have made a difference just by being there – a hug, a smile,
the warmth of their continued friendship.
We build those relationships “line upon line”. Those small strands of silk become the strong
ties that bind us together as a human family.
We all need each other – each one playing their small part in making a
better world.
We really have no idea how much the little things can
mean to others. I’m thankful for all of
those who have touched my life, and I continue to pray for opportunities to
touch the lives of others each day.
