It’s been… awhile.
yet, I keep getting the prompting to start writing again. The good news is that no one reads blogs anymore, so I can really write whatever I want.
Recently, a new family moved into our ward (we live in Tennessee now, btw.)
I approached the wife/mom in Relief Society and chatted with her. As I was talking, I felt a strong prompting to offer to help. In the most Stephanie fashion, I of course offered to bring dinner.
The week went on and the night to deliver had come. Our whole family (sans Kate- she lives with her boyfriend in College Grove. It’s been awhile) piled in the car and delivered dinner. When we arrived, the family’s home was in disarray, as the moving company had nowhere to put their cargo. You see, the painters had neglected to seal the garage floor so nothing could be placed in that area. So, this poor family was having to figure out what to do with their things!
Our family didn’t stay long, just long enough to drop off dinner and pet the pooch. Naturally.
Sometimes I feel silly following a prompting. And although I didn’t necessarily feel silly this night, it didn’t feel extra special. Just a normal day of cooking for someone.
the following Sunday, the family approached us and thanked us again for our service. I said, “You know, I felt a prompting to do that. God really loves you.” The wife had an expression that I couldn’t quite read, but I erroneously read it as me being a weirdo for saying that!
Today, she I and I had this lovely exchange via Instagram:
me: I’m so glad we could help! I’m excited to get to know you better!
her: What you don’t know is that it was an answer to my families prayers. Not the meal, but the kindness and interaction shown that Sunday. Every part of RS was an answer to prayer. I am a social introvert. I am shy in bug groups and until i know ppl i am a wall
flower. I love to be social but i have to be comfortable first. It is easy for me to just observe from the sidelines. So when we moved to TX, I put all my hopes for finding friends, in our new ward. We attended and after 3 weeks, not one person talked to us. I was heartbroken to leave CA and now we were invisible to the new ward. My husband is a social butterfly and can make friends with his shadow but I am not as open. Then covid hit and life got dark very fast. I was in a new state with no friends. In a ward that didnt even acknowledge we were there and I was miserable. After 10 months of a deep depression i woke up one day and told Joe i was taking a car and going on a roadtrip indefinitely. He hates road trips.
I knew he wouldnt come along. I left to find every friend and family member, across the US, that would let me come get a hug and have a chat. A few days here and a few days there. I crisscrossed the US and finally knew what i needed. I called Joe and said we need to sell
the house. We had just spent 2 years building a custom home but i wasn’t going back to that ward and since the church says you go based on your address, we had to move. Joe said no! We wont move but we will find a ward that is welcoming. We found one and asked to have our records moved. We had no idea how much red tape goes into a change like that. It took 6 months of letters and interviews to get my case in front of the first presidency. They had to approve it. They finally did and after being in Texas for 23 months, we finally had a home ward and callings.
A concern for everyone was that the TN ward might not give a warm welcome either. The morning we came to church, one of my girls said “we are praying that you feel welcome in your new ward.” My patriarchal blessing said that my children will follow my example with regards to church. I felt like i was walking a fine line and checking out on church bc the ward was so cold. Knowing that my choice not only impacts me but could harm my kids, I knew i needed to be at church i just was miserable at church. So when you approached me in RS. When Cassie opened with the get to know someone else. When so many sisters chatted with me, all my fears were gone. I knew my TN ward would be nothing like my first TX one was. You said you had a prompting. Thank you for listening and acting. It made a world of difference for us. 🥰
I was floored. I had no idea. What a beautiful experience. God really does love us individually. He really does want us to help one another. I am so grateful that I was able to listen to a prompting, because I really needed a reminder of God’s love for me. I really feel like this experience was just him showing off…
