There are some sisters in every ward that believe that Relief Society is just not their thing. I am not being judgmental as I say that. I know that there are women who are uncomfortable in a crowd or who just don’t feel as comfortable around women. There are women who hate doing things around the house, and so most of the Home, Family and Personal Enrichment ideas, just don’t appeal to them. (I personally struggle a bit with that one, but I like the social aspects, so it balances out.) There are some women that just don’t feel welcome, or that feel like they are being judged all of the time.
So what do you do if you are one of these women or if you are trying to reach one of these women? First it is important to respect their feelings and beliefs. Everyone deserves respect. If they feel uncomfortable, then they do. You can try to find ways to reach out to them and make them feel a part of the group. One way is to have a class that the sister would be comfortable teaching or that she has expressed an interest in. This is a simple way to help the sister feel involved and welcome.
Another way is through visiting teaching. As all visiting teaching assignments are prayerfully made, you may still want to spend an extra moment or two assigning her visiting teachers. Additionally you may want to assign a partner that she is compatible with, if she is willing to be a visiting teacher. If you visit teach one of these sisters, work on becoming her friend. Make sure that you greet her each week.
As a member of the Relief Society, it is important to try to reach out to every sister. Learning a little bit about each person’s interests can help you to make friends and conversation. Just letting someone know that you care enough to say hello each week can make a big difference in helping her to feel welcome and included in Relief Society.
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