--Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11
I'm not a big fan of change. No, let me state that differently. I hate change. I hate being uprooted from what's comfortable and predictable. Which is kind of funny because you'd think I'd be used to it by now. I, of my own choosing, went away to college. I, of my own choosing, served a mission halfway across the world. Grant and I, of our own choosing (mostly), have moved four times in our seven years of marriage and will probably move another few times before we reach year 10. You'd think I'd be able to roll with the punches by now. But I am not.
So it shouldn't come as any surprise that my recent change in callings at church hit me hard. Like I have done with so many other changes in my life, I have dragged my feet on this one. I did not readily accept this change when it happened. It came a little sooner than expected, which caught me off guard, and I have felt more upset about it than even I, the change-hater, expected I would. I'm a big girl and have served in enough callings by now to know how it works -- you serve for a period of time, and you get released and someone else takes over. Which is perfectly fine. It's how it's always worked, it's how it's meant to work, it's a blessing to everyone involved that we don't stay stagnant in callings forever. But, for a change-hater, it rocked my world too much for my liking. I knew and loved the sisters I served with. My responsibilities conveniently "worked" with my schedule as a mom and law student's wife. I've been in a Relief Society presidency for almost five years now, so I knew my responsibilities. I was comfortable. That's the dangerous part. I was too comfortable.
Which the Lord knew perfectly well. So, He knew it was time for a change. And it doesn't matter how much I dragged my heels or resisted or fought this change; it's here, and it's time to move forward. And I'm sure Heavenly Father, knowing that I'm stubborn and resistant, knew that I'd fight it. So He lovingly provided me with needed reminders and counsel through the words of His prophets and the wonders of His creation.
The first loving answer I received regarding all this change came from a talk given by President Henry B. Eyring at the general Relief Society Broadcast. Because I was feeling a little low about the change in calling, which had happened only a week prior to the broadcast, I skipped out on the luncheon and missed my last opportunity to attend that special event with friends. I even missed getting to sit with my dearest friends at the broadcast because I purposefully came just in time for the meeting and slipped in the back. Ornery little one, aren't I. Even with all my stubbornness, the words of that great and gentle leader of the Church pierced my closed-off heart and began a series of inspirations that have brought me to my answer about this change in my life. President Eyring, in talking to the sisters of the Church about their legacy, told about the early leaders in the Church, those who served in the first season of service after the Restoration of the gospel. Here's some of what President Eyring said:
"It is clear from the record they left that those women of the first period of Relief Society felt the joy the Lord promised [them]. He was in the work with them. He prospered it, and they felt joy and light.
"But the Prophet Joseph foresaw that another season would follow. He saw the grand works they would build in the first season. But he also said that they were to serve, bless, and care for those close to them, known personally by them.
"After a joyful time of service for the Relief Society, the Lord led them into another season, away from the fields they had planted so magnificently. It was hard for the faithful men who inherited, for instance, the hospital system they had expanded on the foundation the Relief Society had built. The Lord, through His prophets, made clear that His priesthood servants could hand the trust of maintaining and building that powerful instrument for good to others. And so the Church gave away its marvelous hospital system.
"I know and admire the men who had felt the joy of service in that hospital system. And I saw their recognition that the joy had come from being at work with the Lord, not from their own accomplishments. So they smiled and gave away gladly what they had built. They had faith that the Lord saw a greater need for their service elsewhere, in other fields in another season."
So it shouldn't come as any surprise that my recent change in callings at church hit me hard. Like I have done with so many other changes in my life, I have dragged my feet on this one. I did not readily accept this change when it happened. It came a little sooner than expected, which caught me off guard, and I have felt more upset about it than even I, the change-hater, expected I would. I'm a big girl and have served in enough callings by now to know how it works -- you serve for a period of time, and you get released and someone else takes over. Which is perfectly fine. It's how it's always worked, it's how it's meant to work, it's a blessing to everyone involved that we don't stay stagnant in callings forever. But, for a change-hater, it rocked my world too much for my liking. I knew and loved the sisters I served with. My responsibilities conveniently "worked" with my schedule as a mom and law student's wife. I've been in a Relief Society presidency for almost five years now, so I knew my responsibilities. I was comfortable. That's the dangerous part. I was too comfortable.
Which the Lord knew perfectly well. So, He knew it was time for a change. And it doesn't matter how much I dragged my heels or resisted or fought this change; it's here, and it's time to move forward. And I'm sure Heavenly Father, knowing that I'm stubborn and resistant, knew that I'd fight it. So He lovingly provided me with needed reminders and counsel through the words of His prophets and the wonders of His creation.
The first loving answer I received regarding all this change came from a talk given by President Henry B. Eyring at the general Relief Society Broadcast. Because I was feeling a little low about the change in calling, which had happened only a week prior to the broadcast, I skipped out on the luncheon and missed my last opportunity to attend that special event with friends. I even missed getting to sit with my dearest friends at the broadcast because I purposefully came just in time for the meeting and slipped in the back. Ornery little one, aren't I. Even with all my stubbornness, the words of that great and gentle leader of the Church pierced my closed-off heart and began a series of inspirations that have brought me to my answer about this change in my life. President Eyring, in talking to the sisters of the Church about their legacy, told about the early leaders in the Church, those who served in the first season of service after the Restoration of the gospel. Here's some of what President Eyring said:
"It is clear from the record they left that those women of the first period of Relief Society felt the joy the Lord promised [them]. He was in the work with them. He prospered it, and they felt joy and light.
"But the Prophet Joseph foresaw that another season would follow. He saw the grand works they would build in the first season. But he also said that they were to serve, bless, and care for those close to them, known personally by them.
"After a joyful time of service for the Relief Society, the Lord led them into another season, away from the fields they had planted so magnificently. It was hard for the faithful men who inherited, for instance, the hospital system they had expanded on the foundation the Relief Society had built. The Lord, through His prophets, made clear that His priesthood servants could hand the trust of maintaining and building that powerful instrument for good to others. And so the Church gave away its marvelous hospital system.
"I know and admire the men who had felt the joy of service in that hospital system. And I saw their recognition that the joy had come from being at work with the Lord, not from their own accomplishments. So they smiled and gave away gladly what they had built. They had faith that the Lord saw a greater need for their service elsewhere, in other fields in another season."
And there was my answer. The Lord was leading me into a new season, into a new field of labor. It was my turn to "smile and [give] away gladly what [I] had built." The Lord, as He did for His early saints, "saw a greater need for [my] service elsewhere, in other fields in another season."
As I contemplated this answer, I realized that I was released from my calling on September 27, days after the literal change of seasons -- a physical symbol of this time of change in my life. Each day as I'm out on walks or running errands and see literally strewn about me the evidence that all of God's creations are subject to change, I am gently reminded that I can't resist what God intends for me. He knows why I am needed to teach His young women in this ward at this period of time. He knows what I can share with them that will touch them, and maybe more importantly, He knows what they can share with me.
I'm off to get ready for church, to teach my lesson to and learn from the amazing Laurels I get to serve. I'm off to find out what the Lord now needs me to know, to feel and to experience. I'm off to a new field and a new season of service.
3 comments:
"Seasons come and seasons go..." Although you may be resistant to change it is never reflected in your service and love. The girls in your ward will be so blessed to have you as their teacher. They will learn from you and admire the life you have established for you and your family.
Hi darling...I just got put into Young Womens, too. Taught my first lesson today. Just started feeling "OK" about teaching Relief Society - and I'm gone. You will be so great for the girls. They are lucky to have you and you are lucky to have them :)
I love your posts!! I needed to hear your words because I am also having trouble "accepting" my new calling. Thanks for the pep talk!
Love ya!! :-)
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