December 7, 2015
Re: Letter 53 of 3
Dear Riley:
We’re headed into the busiest week of the month and possibly the busiest of the entire year. Tuesday is the Bishopric Christmas dinner for the widowed and/or singles over 50. Your Mother is a little stressed over the whole event so I’ll be taking Tuesday off to help out with various aspects and to bake six loaves of sourdough bread. It should be really nice this year. We have a wonderful menu and program planned and I know the gesture is greatly appreciated by the individuals who will be there. Add to this, a dance recital, a choir concert, a Christmas open house with a former Bishop and friend, hand delivery of a ward Christmas card to every home within the Ward boundary, delivery of Christmas assistance to those in need, and the usual responsibilities of work…we’ll be lucky to make it through without a breakdown.
We had another wonderful Sacrament meeting today. ZK gave a short but powerful talk on service to others. Sister B spoke on putting your trust in the Lord. I’ve known her for around 20 years, and never knew she was a convert. What a wonderful sweet story and testimony! The young women sang a sweet musical number accompanied by Elise. SK was our high council speaker and gave a masterful talk on the atonement. I needed the spiritual boost and felt fully edified by what transpired today.
PY received her mission call and will be serving in the Toronto Canada Spanish speaking mission. She reports to the MTC April 13th. She’ll be a wonderful missionary and it will be nice to have more than one mission plaque hanging in the foyer for awhile.
Around two years ago when I was first called as Bishop I had the impression to initiate regular scheduled visits in the homes of people within my stewardship. During the years of my service, I wanted everyone to feel they knew their bishop and even the non-members to consider me their friend and asset in times of need. I felt even the words to speak were given to me through the Spirit so as to be inviting in a non threatening way in a spirit of loving outreach. One particular invitation and visit with a non member was so well received that I had high expectations that my invitation would be equally well received in the homes of other non-members. This wasn’t the case and I was taken aback by the coldness and near hostility I felt from one home in particular.
For two years I felt my efforts had been to no avail. Subsequent attempts to extend with a kind word or friendly honk and wave in passing only seemed to invite further coldness. However, a month or so ago, I passed the individual and had a pleasant interchange. Then just last week I heard through another member that this family still remembered and spoke favorably about the time I came by and offered my services and that they actually DID consider me someone they could call upon in time of need. I had already tried unsuccessfully to drop off some sourdough but hadn’t found anyone at home, so I went back with a fresh loaf last evening. This was graciously received, and followed up with a personal visit to my home and a sweet thank you note. I feel I have a friend in this family and that the feeling is mutual. It just goes to show that when the Spirit prompts you to do something even when the immediate results aren’t what you envisioned, it was still the right thing to do. Seeds can be planted that take years to sprout, and the fruits can be even better than you imagined. I’m grateful for the whispers and guidance of the Spirit and it’s remarkable to be able to look back and appreciate how he quietly and simply goes around bringing about much good.
The sickness that plagued us for a couple weeks is mostly on the run. It looks like both Aleah and I dodged this one. Parker took the ACT again on Saturday but was a brute before and after. It’s apparent he’s depressed, as he’s quite moody and sleeps all the time. We’ve had a drought of media on account of warring between siblings, though so far this seems to feed additional animosity rather than diminish it. Maybe things will calm down once the anxiety of the holiday is past. Of course, this will thrust us into birthday season with its own unique set of dynamics and anxiety. What to do…
Cambry is finishing up her classes and gearing up for finals. She is SO ready to be done with school but seems to be handling the stress well. C is around a good deal and a great support for Cambry. Both he and Cambry make a darling couple and they really bring out the best in each other.
Well, time to sign off. We so enjoy the news from the mission and the pictures. We feel so blessed to have a hard working and dedicated son who strives to be worthy, and seeks the guidance of the Spirit. I’m convinced that even when you feel like your efforts are falling short of expectations and that you’re making little headway, as long as you’re living according to the promptings of the Spirit you will in time look back and see the wisdom of what you were inspired to do and say. Some seeds you plant may not bear fruit for many years. Some of the fruit may not be evident to you until the afterlife, but you will always be doing the right thing as long as you’re following the Spirit. Perhaps the nicest thing to keep in mind is that God will never require more than this of you, so simply live according to the Spirit and you will serve the best mission you can possibly serve, even if you feel much of your effort bore no fruit. Head up shoulders back! It’s a wonderful time to be involved in so great a work.
Love,
Dad
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