It seems like each visit with our Home Teachers gets worse. These wonderful men arrive on time, in white shirts and ties, with a prepared message, and then it happens. My darling little children evolve into monsters!
During their last visit, even before they could sit down, my son began tossing sofa pillows at his sister. As they engaged in a full-blown pillow fight, our toddler mischievously giggled as she flipped the light switch on and off. All of this occurred, of course, just five minutes after we reminded our children of appropriate behavior during Home Teaching visits. Sound familiar? These are the times when I ask myself, “Why do we even do this. I’m not feeling The Spirit. Is this really worth it?”
Whether you have little ones in your home or you have been assigned to teach a family with young children, chances are you’ve witnessed something similar. Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching callings can provoke similar frustration and doubt when you face less-than-ideal circumstances.
Maybe the frustration comes from an assignment to Home Teach a family who is conveniently never home even when an appointment is scheduled. Maybe the doubts are due to visits with a less active sister who seems to allow you into her home only to debate LDS doctrine. Maybe the distractions in your life are due to working two jobs and you feel overwhelmed trying to fit Home Teaching appointments in between the chaos. Whatever your circumstances, at times, you may wonder, “Is this really worth it?”
Take comfort, it really is worth it! Regardless of your situation, Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching are the Lord’s work! Your dedicated service has eternal rewards, both for yourself and for those you teach. You may not see the fruit of your labor immediately or even in this lifetime. However, if you can say that you gave your best efforts, even under difficult circumstances, the rewards will be great.
Stress, frustration, doubt and disappointment may accompany Home and Visiting Teaching assignments. These are chief tools of the adversary. We must remember the source and know there is “opposition in all things.”
Maybe the next visit with the home teachers will go better. Maybe the next attempt to visit with a difficult family will be inviting. Maybe the next time the Home Teachers come the children will listen. Our challenge is to maintain an eternal perspective. We do this by tuning out the distractions and following the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Posted by John in Miscellaneous Articles