When I was on my mission, I was assigned to be companions with Sister Nagel. I was worried about it. I thought she was mean, because of one Zone meeting and I saw her doing something completely innocent, but I took it the wrong way.
I couldn’t have been more wrong and she ended up being my favorite companion!
Ellie (Sister Nagel) told me how when the Mission President usually assigned her to new companions he would say,
“You will be a real blessing to this Sister.”
But when he assigned her to me, he said,
“You will be a real blessing to EACH OTHER!”
That proved to be true. It is always such a treat when you are a blessing to EACH OTHER!
Had we not been forced to be companions, I probably would have never taken the time to get to know her better and make such a dear friend. I probably would still think she was the mean Sister Missionary from that Zone Conference! We laugh about my absurd thinking now.
When I moved into our house, over 14 years ago, there was a Sister in the ward who intrigued me. I talked to her here and there, but never really sat down and got to know her, until over 10 years later, when I was in the Relief Society Presidency, helping coordinate visiting teaching and I was so excited to assign her as my teacher. Well on Kori’s first visit to me, we both expressed how we had always wanted to get to know each other better, but just never had made it happen. We missed out on 10 years of friendship.
It is sad how if our lives don’t create connections organically, like our kids are the same age, so we go to park day together. Or we serve in the same organization… then we don’t take the time to get to know people. Then we both miss out!
Today take time to pray and ask God – Who can I reach out to – with the intent to get to know them better, so we can be a blessing to EACH OTHER! Or maybe you already have someone in mind. Reach out, they maybe have been feeling the same thing. Who knows, you may make a new friend. 🙂
Matthew 25:35 “I was a stranger and ye took me in.”
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