We Are Each Other's Angels

I really need to blog more often if I want this to be a meaningful journal of any kind. Last Wednesday, we had a tremendous spiritual experience. Our dear friend Maryann Bingham was struggling with some personal sorrow and we had her over for a meal together. Talking and testifying together of our faith in God and his plan, we managed to get through the meal okay with more smiles than we had before.

Prior to the meal, while just visiting, Rebekkah’s new seminary teacher came over to give her the lowdown and buttress her up a bit.This remarkable woman, sister Hudrlick, has been teaching the “zero” period seminary class for years. She is amazing. She puts so much devotion and dedication into her calling that it is truly amazing, using her upbeat personality and constant smile while keeping them with high standards. In case you are unaware, LDS youth attend seminary before school here in Southern California. The “zero” period class starts even earlier for those who already have a zero period class at the high school. So, Seminary starts at 5:30 AM. Yes, it is really that early.

While she was here visiting, it was fun not only to watch Rebekkah’s interaction with her, and my silly shaking of my head when she didn’t know answers to some questions that we have been studying for forever (like who members of the first presidency of the church are), but it was also fun to watch Maryann’s interaction with it all. She told me not to worry, that she has been there and done that with her son Jay during his confirmation classes when he seemed to know nothing too. I guess it is just what kids are like in these teenage years and I need to be more patient as a parent.

After the meal, our wonderful home teacher came over. His name is brother Demke. He has truly been there for us for years, performing blessings in our home over sick children, always visiting each month, and constantly showing a great deal of patience with our children. His lesson was taken from the first presidency’s message about Charity: the Pure love of Christ.

It was a powerful lesson where he brought in extra material and unabashedly shared his testimony despite the fact that Maryann is not a member of our church. The spirit of God was very strong in the room. After the lesson, she thanked him as well since that was something we really all needed to hear. She commented that she has been involved in service sorority in college and has always felt very strongly about the need to serve other people.

Even though we had given him no advance warning, I asked brother Demke to then help me in administering to Maryann a blessing of comfort. The spirit was strong then too and I know that some of the words that I said were truly directly from the Lord and not just the feeble mind of Pete. She ended up staying with us until nearly 11 pm visiting and sharing in our love for each other and just having a friend to talk to about life and all of its ups and downs.

Then, this past Sunday during Fast and Testimony meeting, I shared with the congregation this experience and testified how I know that we are all meant to be here for each other and to help each other in every way that we can. I truly love the Lord and am so grateful he doesn’t make life something where you are expected to wander through it alone.