Tender Mercies

In early December I had a heart to heart with my bishop. We talked about a lot of things. I wasn't in a good place. He told me to let him know what he could do to help. I mentioned that once I was done with the Christmas enrichment dinner I felt like I might be ready for a change. He asked me to let him know where I wanted to serve and he even promised me a month off between callings! At that point there wasn't one calling that I felt like I wanted to do.

The next Sunday they released the Teaching for our Times instructor and I knew that was where I needed to be. That night at tithing settlement he asked how I was doing. I told him I was better and I mentioned that I could see myself teaching RS. He said he could make it happen. I said "No, don't make it happen. If Mary asks for suggestions mention me, but I don't want you to push me on her." He agreed to that. I decided to make it a matter of prayer. If that is where I was wanted I asked that Mary would feel inspired to ask for me.

Less than two hours later Mary called me. She was so funny. She said "I have to ask you something, it is terrible, horrible, really bad.... Are you going to be around the Sunday after Christmas?" When I said yes she asked if I would teach the TFOT lesson. I started to get emotional. I asked her if she had been talking to the bishop. She said, "no, why?" I told her of our conversation and she said, "That's it. I'm going to tell him to call you and hopefully we can have you in by Sunday."

At that moment I felt the love of my Heavenly Father so strongly. I knew that I was important to Him. I had been feeling so insignificant and I knew that I was given this experience so I could feel His love and concern. He is always there to grant the righteous desires no matter how small they may seem.

I am grateful that Mary was in tune with the Spirit. I told her she works quickly. I was impressed!

I was called and put in the following Sunday. When Mary came up to me after Sacrament meeting tell me how excited she was to have me I mentioned that I didn't get my month off. She laughed and said, "no one gets that anymore!"

This week before church started Mary asked me what lesson she had asked me to teach today. I about fainted. I had been working for weeks on the wrong lesson? Oh my. Well it ended up that we both had it right.

She said "I have something to show you." It was the lesson schedule. Guess what......January is Stake Conference, I don't have to teach. February is Ward Conference, I don't have to teach. Do you know what that means? I GET TWO MONTHS OFF! Isn't our Heavenly Father the greatest? He really does know me and he wants me to be happy.