Not exactly what I had in mind

It's funny how things work out. Last month I was having one of those moments of self reflection. I was thinking of all the areas in my life where I need to make improvements. I mentally made a list of things that I really wanted to work on and do better at. They included, among other things the desire to be more aware of others around me (read being less selfish), growing more spiritually, and immersing myself in the scriptures. Basically making some priority adjustments and trying to make myself a better person while helping others around me.

I've also been grumbling for some time now to my husband, and anyone else unlucky enough to hear, about my stress over having three callings at church. I have been doing the sacrament meeting program for 3 years now and have served in primary for several years and a little over a year ago was called to be the Enrichment night leader, all at the same time. Not that any of them is highly stressful, well maybe enrichment night leader, but the 3 of them combined plus taking care of my family and trying to support my husband in his very demanding callings, has left me feeling a little overwhelmed.

I've been praying or at least hoping that, if it was His will, that Heavenly Father might see fit for me to be released from one or more of my callings. Oh, and if it wasn't too much to ask, I'd really like to have a calling that would allow me to go to Relief Society again. I enjoy my callings, but I was ready for a change.

For those of you reading who are not familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints, I will give you a little overview of how things work in our church in regards to "callings" (click for a more detailed explanation). Our church does not have a paid clergy. Everybody who serves in our church does so voluntarily, from the Bishop (who is the head of our congregation) to those that speak or teach in our meetings, and everything in between. One is "called" or asked to serve in a position with the understanding that the call has come through prayer and inspiration. The one issuing the call has authority through the priesthood to extend that calling to you. Ultimately it is our choice to except the calling or not, but we are encouraged to accept the callings given to us as they are from God and because they can bless not only our lives, but those that we serve.

So the Sunday after I got home from Utah I was home with sick kids while Scott had meetings to go to. After church was over I get a knock on my door. I open the door to find my Bishop standing on the door step. Evidently he had spoken with Scott and asked if he could meet with both of us. It was important enough that he wanted to come to our house to talk with us. As I mentioned I was home with sick kids so my house was a disaster and so was I. Scott had figured he would beat the bishop home so he didn't call me ahead of time to warn me that he was coming over. Scott shows up after about 5 to 10 minutes of me small talking uncomfortably with the bishop wondering what he is doing at my house. It didn't dawn on me that he had come over with the intention to talk to us about a new calling.

When I finally realized why the bishop was at our house I was excited, thinking of the possibilities. Then my bishop cut to the chase. "Sister ______ we would like to call you to serve as Relief Society President*". My first reaction, "No way, you're kidding right?" [insert me laughing, nervously, by myself]. He looks at me in all seriousness and tells me he is not kidding [insert more nervous laughter and then many, many tears].

Yesterday I was released from all my callings and sustained and set apart as the new Relief Society president in our ward. Now not only do I have just one calling, but I will be able to attend Relief Society every Sunday, and I will have plenty of opportunities to grow and improve in those ways that I was thinking I needed to. Lesson learned.....

Be careful what you pray for. You might just get it!

*Again for those not familiar with our church. The Relief Society is the women's organization in our church. As RS president, with the help of my presidency, I am over the spiritual and temporal needs of each of the women in our congregation. I am to oversee that their needs are being met. Not an easy task.