Taken Care Of

It was a year ago on Valentine’s Day that we moved into this house.

The few months leading up to the big event were a bit chaotic.  In November  2008 we decided to take our house off the market.  We had a baby coming and the holidays to deal with.  The sale of the house is a pretty good story, too, but it’s not a part of this story.

During the already hectic holiday season, we were trying to find a new house to move into while getting ready for Simon to be born.  I knew that I should be totally stressed out, but all I could feel was an overwhelming peace and joy.

I get all teary-eyed remembering those weeks.  Every time I started to worry, I was blessed with a deep-down calm and a feeling that everything would work out.

My visiting teacher, bless her heart, was more worried than I was.  Debbie kept asking what the plan was for moving, and what she could do to help. I kept telling her that I wasn’t sure yet, but I would let her know.

Eventually, she could not wait any longer and took matters into her own hands.  She arranged for people to bring meals to me every day for a week after Simon was born.  And she orchestrated the whole move.

Ladies from church began collecting and dropping off empty boxes at my house.  Debbie called to tell me that she had ladies lined up in 2 hour shifts the week before moving day.  And sure enough… right on schedule they showed up ready to pack me. 

Day after day I sat there and held my baby while these wonderful, cheerful ladies packed my entire house.  They even loaded up their cars with the things they considered to fragile to trust to the men, and took them to the new house.

When I got to the new house, I found that Debbie had been here cleaning my kitchen and putting a fresh liner in my old cupboards.  There were even people to bring us meals for a few days in the new house, which was great since we didn’t have the gas for the range hooked up yet.

I’m still in awe of how much people helped us.  I have never felt more cared for.  A couple of my kids even got choked up when we talked about all the service that had been done for our family.

I understand why Heavenly Father was able to bless me with peace, and to tell me not to worry- everything would work out.  He knew that He had Debbie Haggard “on duty” as my visiting teacher, and that she would be willing and able to take care of me and my family.  He knew that she would understand when His spirit whispered to  her that she needed to help.

I think that is the perfect application of Christianity-  to look after and care for one another.  The Savior said that “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”  Debbie was just doing what she knew needed to be done, and has probably not thought much about it since.  But her example has touched me profoundly.

I want to be the type of person that sees a need, and then just fills it.  I want to be the one who understands when the spirit is whispering to me, and acts on it.  I want to be the one that Heavenly Father knows He can count on when one of His children needs help.

I pray that I will be that person.