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.