TEARS: ‘A Call to Remember’…

About 4:30, almost time to go home, I answered a call from a Sister who seemed distressed. She needed a job right away. I told her of the Career Workshop and said the next one started the next day, but it was full. Would she like to take the next one in two weeks?  She said she REALLY needed to take this one and get a job. I put down the phone and looked at Sister Olson. She had heard enough of the conversation to understand the gist of it … she paused to feel the Spirit, and nodded her head ‘yes’. I told the Sister, who sighed in relief.  Then we looked at each other and thought… we don’t have room. Why did we just say ‘Yes’?  OK -Because it felt right.

The next day we were prepared for at least 7, possibly eight candidates. Three came, and one was this sister.  She arrived 1/2 hour early to start her profile. Seeing her, Sister Olson whispered that it wasn’t by accident she was there, as we had felt prompted to include her. She started to cry… Later, class started and about 1/2 way through the morning she started to cry and could not stop. She left class to compose herself. I was in the front office so she stayed with me as I listened, offered comfort and worked with her on some of what they were doing in class. Sister Olson finished the morning class.

At noon she apologized for being so weepy, saying, “I don’t understand why I can’t stop crying?” “I know,” Sister Olson told her, as it came instantly to our minds. We have seen this before… She had shared with us that she felt at home in our Center, cared for instantly, and felt the Spirit, particularly when Sister Olson told her she was supposed to be here. 

Whether it is a return to the temple, or Church membership, or place where the Spirit is strong, the call to remember what it feels like to bathe in Heavenly Father’s Spirit, triggers surprise, peace, and often tears of joy -unrestrained and unbidden.

Tears in such cases are a compliment to the ERC’s Spirit and the candidate’s heart. The fact that she felt it that strongly made us truly grateful.

I am so very grateful for the Spirit of our ERC. It is an incredible place to serve and the Spirit is almost always tangible. A couple of weeks ago the UPS guy stepped in the door to deliver a package and stopped in his tracks and said "There is something here that I feel inside when I walk in the door." We explained to him what it was and he agreed that it was an amazing feeling. We have an amazing staff in Steve, Jeremy, Britta, the Hernandez's, Brother Tanner and Sister Taylor. Each does all they can to bring the spirit with them as they serve. I am so blessed to be serving in such a place with incredible new friends.  We have daily opportunities to bear witness of our Savior's love and His hand in each of our lives and to encourage the clients who come in to seek His help every step of the way in their search for employment. God loves his children. We witness this daily as people come through the door humbly seeking help. I am grateful to be an instrument in His hands in serving these, His sons and daughters, one by one and to be able to feel his guidance directing my thoughts and words and witnessing to me of His love for each of them. 

REMEMBERING

This was written by Sister Olson:

One of the greatest gifts we can get from Heavenly Father, or from others, is to REMEMBER who we really are- what is best about us, what matters, and  what should matter to us.

When we DON'T remember, we are less likely to act nicely, towards others - or towards ourselves. We will often be satisfied with doing poorly, or just getting by. We will not try as hard as we are able to, to succeed, or go the other direction where succeeding will be too important to the neglect of other things or people. REMEMBERING the best about us, affects everything.

We teach what is called a "Career Workshop". It is two full days long. The main 3 things we teach is: 1) confidence by remembering what you have already done in your life and the characteristics you HAD to have, to do those...and, #2 and #3 are how to find jobs and then to effectively interview for them. The class quickly sees that you can't do the second two well, without the first - KNOWING yourself.

We often ask those who come what has been the most important part of what we teach.  The most common answer is, helping them to REMEMBER who they are and what they have already done.

This week, we asked the same question to class participants. Same answer. Love it all, but "REMEMBERING" was so important.

Diane, not LDS, is a single mother (married, but her husband is in Syria and cannot help her), is responsible for herself and her daughter's family while they live with her and look for work. She told us that her daughter - who we know and is wonderful- has been complaining, argumentative, etc. Sister Olson suggested that her daughter was under a lot of stress as well, and sometimes we don't act our best when our needs are not being met. We talked about that and she saw this was true. Diane - because of her stress- was not as hugging, talking, doing with her daughter as she always has been. (Even big people don't always know how to say they need more attention!) Diane was so pleased that she could see what to do and it wasn't necessarily because she was a bad mother or something else. Right before she finished the workshop  she said that she had LOVED being with us, and was lingering because she didn't want to go. (extra 1 1/2 hours and closing time). She had felt 'nurtured... warmed by inspiring words...cared for... emotionally and intellectually fed'... she said we felt like 'family' and she now understood why her two children who had taken the workshop, loved us... She said she had forgotten who she REALLY was under the stress, and we helped bring those things to mind.... This made us very happy.

Jack, a returned missionary, is working but will need different employment when his office closes, said,  who he really was (as a missionary in particular), had been buried under his responsibilities to provide for his family. He didn't think about himself, or WHO he really was. He said this class really helped return him to that - to remember.

Luis took the class a second time and brought his 19 year old daughter, Anabelly, with him . He likes to be with us and feels cared for. He is getting baptized next Sunday. Watch for pictures.

Ed, a nonmember, who took the class before, came into the office before class. Sister Olson told him we looked forward to his coming in. "I know" he said. "I do too."  We are glad he knows this.

Another lady this week, told us that she often does not feel valued by those who should know and love her.  That made her question herself. We had her write down as many characteristics as she could about herself. Wow! She was amazing in what she knew about herself (One lady last week had a hard time thinking of ONE good character trait - barely one). Fortunately this sister filled a page. Still, it was good to remember and not allow herself to be diminished.

Several others have told us, from the class, or that we have worked with in the office... that our office FEELS like FAMILY.  It does.

It is wonderful when family REMEMBERS that each of us is wonderful, but more important is that we allow our Heavenly Father to REMIND us to REMEMBER, that we are HIS children, and we have the ability to be like Him.  If you WANT to be a certain way, He has promised He will work with you, for as long as it takes, to become fully and completely that person... Allow Him to help you always remember WHO HE IS... and WHO YOU ARE.

I love you all so much. That will never change.