Loving People More Than Possessions: Lesson Two

            The second time I became too attached to a possession was on my mission. A few months into my mission, my watch broke. When I went looking for a replacement, I found a beautiful watch. It looked like a bracelet with a watch face. Although no where near the cost of a Rolex, I could have purchased a more practical, economical watch on my meager missionary allowance. I decided to splurge and buy the watch. I was serving in northeast Brazil. I rarely wore makeup because the heat and humidity would cause it to run down my face by midday. My hair was almost always in a ponytail to keep it off my neck and from sticking to my face. I showered at least two times a day, three when I could justify it. Most of the time I felt gross and, in spite of my best efforts, probably didn’t smell great either. A beautiful watch added a touch of femininity to my ragged state.

            My companion and I had been visiting a couple of families on the same street. It was a poor neighborhood. The homes were smaller than my daughter’s bedroom. One was a single woman with a young daughter. We knew the woman had a drinking problem. Later we learned from a neighbor that when she was drunk she would beat her daughter. I was appalled and wanted to stop visiting her. My companion thought we should try to help the woman. It was difficult because she was often drunk when we stopped by and we would be unable to teach her. A few days after I bought the watch, we visited her home and she was sober. She complimented me on how beautiful my watch was. My companion then started teaching the lesson. While I was trying to focus on the lesson and having unchristian thoughts about the woman, I heard a voice tell me to give her the watch. I ignored the voice. The third time I had the same prompting, I could no longer ignore it. After my companion finished the lesson, I told the woman to hold out her hand. I then took off the watch and gave it to her. Her face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. I wonder if she had ever had anything like it before.

            I would love to say that the woman was so touched by my generosity that she stopped drinking and abusing her daughter then joined the church. However, I would be lying. That was the last time we were able to teach her. It was the last time I ever saw her sober. The next time we came she apologized in a drunken rant that she had broken the watch. Surprisingly, I was not angry. When I gave her the watch, I surrendered ownership and concern about it. She didn’t need the watch. I needed to give it to her; because it was the first time I was able to see her as a daughter of our Heavenly Father instead of an abusive drunk. Although I was still upset about what was happening to her daughter; my heart was softened. I was able to let go and leave judgment up to God and to realize I had not lived the woman’s life. Therefore, I had no right to judge her. It still broke my heart to not be able to help the daughter. I am grateful to live in a country where there are people we can turn to who will intervene and help children in similar situations. 

Loving People More Than Possessions: Lesson One

When I was in college, as girl often do, my roommates and I would borrow each other's clothes. One Sunday my roommate, Sonae, wore my favorite white, floral dress. She looked stunning in it. One of the reasons I loved the dress was because it flattered my figure. Her boyfriend (now husband) Dan noticed how wonderful she looked and wanted to buy the dress from me for Sonae. I was not about to sell my favorite dress so I told him "no". Then the Spirit started working on me. Not to sell the dress, but to give the dress to her! I admit, at first I was annoyed and resistant. Finally, the Spirit was able to soften my selfish heart. I wrapped the dress in a box and left it on Sonae's bed with a note. She was extremely grateful for the gift. What amazed me the most was the way I felt after I gave it to her. I no longer cared about the dress. Once I let go of it, I was able to see it as just a dress which was nothing compared to my the friendship and love and had for my roommate. I was able to see all of the kindness she had shown me and our friendship was worth more than a thousand dresses. Sadly, the dress was later destroyed in a fire where Sonae and her family lost many of their possessions. Luckily, Sonae and her family were all okay.

Getting to Know Darth Vader

When I was little Darth Vader was the ultimate bad guy. Then during Return of the Jedi, when I was momentarily not distracted by the adorable Ewoks, I learned there was still some good buried underneath the metal and husky, breathy voice. Years later Phantom Menace came along and brought with it internal dilemma. How could the monster I feared as a child be this adorable little slave boy? As many things do, it caused crazy ideas to bounce around in my brain. In life it is rare for us to obtain insight into a person's life in the way Anakin Skywalker's journey from innocence to evil is presented. However, our Heavenly Father has that insight into all of our lives which helped me understand how God can love ALL of his children, even the really evil ones. When I think of someone like Adolf Hitler, in my mind his entire being is so engulfed in evil that they become synonymous. Yet, Heavenly Father knows of any good that still resides in our hearts. He can separate the sin from the individual in spite of the severity of the sin. That does not mean He in any way excuses the sin. We will have to pay for all of our sins if we do not repent through the grace of the atonement or if they are not covered by Christ's sacrifice. All it means is that He can still see His child. The one He will reclaim once all the sins are paid and the hurt and hate they were born of is washed away.