My sophomore year in college I was called for the first time to be a Visiting Teacher. My companion was even quieter and more backward than I was.
We were called to teach Sis. Wilkinson. Sister Wilkinson was the wife of Ernest L. Wilkinson, the president of BYU. Sister Wilkinson was a member of the Relief Society General Board. Sister Wilkinson served on the committee that wrote the Visiting Teaching messages.
I learned more from Sis. Wilkinson than she learned from me.
All my life I’ve had friends of all ages, but I particularly appreciate the older, more mature friends that I’ve had, as they’ve taken me under their wings and let me learn from their wisdom and experience. As a young married, it made all the difference in my life. I'm so grateful for people like Karen, Gincy, Glenna, Rosie, Bobbye and others.
I recently visited a ward where I saw a young woman walk over to a very elderly woman. I could see the sparkle in her eyes and the light in her face from across the room. The love and connection between these two sisters was palpable, and you could tell they had spent some quality time together. I thought it was one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen.
Marjorie Hinckley said,
“Oh, how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young. And, hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old. We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other. Women need women.”
Relief Society is truly for every season of our lives.
But season is not just a noun; it is also a verb.
We can be the seasoning for others, and they for us --
in all the ages and stages of our lives--
as we expand our circle of friendship.
Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.
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4 comments:
Variety in age and experience is something I miss in my ward of thrity-somethings!
(miss you!)
I feel pretty lucky to have that variety in my ward. It truly is a blessing.
I LOVE the quote at the end of your post!
Getting know the "older" sisters in my ward is one of the things I love most about visiting teaching. I've met so many wonderful women this way and have loved our interactions and continuing relationships. I don't know that I ever had anything to teach them, but they always seemed happy to have the visit.
Do I get that from you? I've always had friends my own age. We are buddies, we hang out, we chat... However, the best conversation I've had and the most memorable experiences have been with older (and wiser) men and women I have known. Now, older is relative. When I was in primary, it could be young women. When I was in YW it would be the youthful leaders. When it college singles wards, it was always the wives of the bishops. Just a few years apart in age can make a huge difference. They know so much!! I crave that now in my married student ward. Micah and I are getting to be in the older group of people in the ward. We plan on moving to a family ward as soon as he graduates in December. I don't mind seasoning others as long as there is someone for me as well. Hooray for diversity!
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