Angel on the Front Porch

In our church women are able to be visiting teachers. We visit and serve other women that have been assigned to us and strive to develop friendships and discuss the gospel. The assignment is to visit at least once each month. I love this program and know that when visiting teachers are faithful in their assignment, they become an amazing source of strength to the women they visit. However, being the humans that we are, we don't always follow through in the way that was intended.

For example.... "The Visiting Teaching Movie" found at youtube (see above).

My experiences on the receiving end of visiting teaching have been less than ideal for a very long time. Most months that meant no visit at all and it was difficult to not take this personally. I tried telling myself that I didn't really "deserve" a visit since my assignment is only to write to a couple of women who have requested not to receive visits. If I wasn't going out for visits, then maybe I shouldn't expect to get them.

In September, I decided to focus on the idea that visiting teaching wasn't really about me. It is more about helping others to have the opportunity to develop Christlike attributes. Instead of waiting for another month to go by without a visit, I decided to give my visiting teacher some help. I sent her an email and gave her the times that I would be available for a visit that week and asked if she would like to come.

The day of our appointment came and I was very excited. It had been over a year since I'd had an actual visit and I was determined to make my visiting teacher feel welcomed and appreciated so that she would come again. My plan was to get home from work in time to prepare a little treat and to be a wonderful hostess. However, I ended up being stuck at work late and knew that I would not have time to complete my plans. Still, I should arrive home about 10 minutes before our appointment and I could at least pour some lemonade or something like that.

As I drove home from work, I found myself feeling very anxious about the whole thing. Doubts started to attack. What if she didn't come? What if her kids were sick? What if she had forgotten? What if...

I held a prayer in my heart as I drove along and tried to prepare for disappointment. That would be easier than being caught off guard. But, as I approached my house I saw her minivan parked along the curb out front. Then I saw my sweet visiting teacher sitting patiently on my front porch. I parked my car and then joined her on the porch.

I'm not sure how long she had been sitting there, since she had obviously arrived early. I'm certain she had plenty of time to notice all the little things that suddenly came to my attention as we sat there... the flower beds that needed weeded, the potted plants that needed watering, the porch floor that needed scrubbing...

She didn't mention any of that. We had a lovely visit and when she prepared to leave, she asked the question that every visiting teacher asks. "Is there anything that I can do for you?"

My immediate response was, "No." After all, I just wanted her to come back! I didn't want to ask any more of her than that. But, being the angel that she is, she didn't let it drop there. She nudged me a bit with, "But, you would tell me if there was something I could do to help, right?" I didn't immediately respond, but she nodded her head, indicating the appropriate response.

I was honest with her when I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Actually, probably not." But, I have a visiting teaching angel. She didn't accept that for a minute. She reminded me that being able to ask for help is what visiting teachers -- and friends -- are for. I knew in that moment that I didn't need to be afraid that she wouldn't come back.

There was an angel on my front porch! I thought of a little something extra she could do and I asked for that. It was something small and she followed through with it beautifully. Thank you to my visiting teaching angel... you know who you are. :)