I went visiting teaching last night. As usual, I always feel so much better about life when I get to go visiting teaching. This month, the topic of the visiting teaching message was visiting teaching. I thought that was interesting. Yet, I have gained a testimony over the years that visiting teaching is truly important to helping us become more like Christ.
The message was very similar to the article I spoke of from the March Ensign. It spoke of being the hands of the Savior and what we can do to really minister to the sisters we visit.
However, one thing that really touched me this time was that the message said that there were three things that our sisters that we visit teach would say about us if we were truly ministering to them. The last one really stood out. It said that if our sisters have problems, and we are doing what we are truly supposed to do as visiting teachers, then we will act before our sisters ask for help when we know there is a problem.
My first reaction when I read that was, “Do I really know what the problems are that my sisters I visit teach face?” My next most immediate question was, “Do they open up to me enough to know?” Of course, then I thought of myself. I like having visiting teachers come to visit me. I find it nice to have adult conversation, and to be able to relate to someone above the age of 5 years old. But, do I pour my heart out to them? No. Do I ask for help when I need it? No. Would they really know if I was going through something that was really difficult for me? Probably not.
I think that it is just as important to be good at being visited as it is to be a good visiting teacher. The program is put into place for a reason. The Lord wants us to ask those around us for help. He wants us to have opportunities to be served. So, it is just as wrong to not let those around us help and serve us as it is to not help and serve others.
I think too often that the women of the church are afraid to use the program that is put into place for our spiritual growth. I know that I am. My Mom is always telling me to call my visiting teachers when I am struggling with something, but I rarely do. Yet, I am missing out on precious blessing because of it. If these women are meant to be his helping hands, then I need to be willing to accept them.