I’m one to admit that being in a branch is hard work. There aren’t enough people to fill callings and you can end up with at least 2 callings or assignments so that things run smoothly. Any given Sunday I have three to five different assignments and often leave church feeling completely drained. But, often I am also reminded how precious that branch experience can be.
We’ve had sick kids all week and even had to flake out of a Chinese New Year party we were supposed to attend last night. We just want to kick this flu bug going around our house. Today happened to be our Branch Conference for church when the District attended our meetings. Chris is in the District presidency so had to be there and I had a number of responsibilities that couldn’t be passed off either. So, we stocked up on cough drops for the kids and hoped for the best as we headed out the door for 6 hours.
All I heard from my time up at the organ during Sacrament meeting was Hannah coughing or sniffing – nonstop! I looked down occasionally and saw people looking at her. How could they not?! When I finally got down to sit with the kids I was feeling a little guilty for dragging her to church to contaminate everyone else (I wasn’t going to send her to class) – at least that’s what I thought everyone else was thinking. As I sat there during the sacrament wondering what I should do we were surrounded by love in a most amazing way. The family in front of us handed Hannah back some goldfish and gave her a comforting smile. The older woman on our left handed Hannah a pack of tissues and told her she could keep the whole thing. Our personal angel who always sits behind us leaned over the pew to hug Hannah and see if she needed anything. This same angel even went out in the foyer to sit with Hannah on the couch when I took her out there so everyone else could hear the talks.
Skip ahead to the 2nd hour of church – Hannah was staying with Chris in the combined Sunday School where he was teaching the lesson. I was in Primary. I happened to be out in the hall at one point when I heard Hannah say hi to me. She was with one of our young single adult women who had taken her out to get a drink – not just from the drinking fountain but had gone out to her car to get her a bottled water. She then took Hannah back to Sunday School with her.
I left church today feeling very uplifted by those around me. It took a day like today for me to be reminded how blessed we are to be in our branch. I began to reflect how these little ‘angels’ are always helping us through our Sundays – if I’m on my way to take Cami to nursery and am stopped in the hall, someone always continues with her down the hall to deliver her to nursery. There have been several days when I wonder how she got there.
It’s such a comfort to know when we are trying our hardest to serve, we are being served back in ways that bless our lives as well. Our family has truly been blessed today.
I have yet to be a parent while in a branch, but I grew up attending branches for much of my younger life. I remember the feelings of bonding we had in those branches because there were so few of us. We had to band together to survive!
Sweet post Becca. It is amazing when you “really” see the service from the people in your ward or branch. That is what it is really all about. I’m so glad that you have so many people that love you and serve you in your ward!
Becca, I just tagged you. If you want to participate, you can see the details on my blog!
How wonderful that you have a congregation who welcomes children – even the sniffly ones 🙂
I love the post. I have to admit though, when I saw “branch” I was thinking “part of a tree” and was wondering what a stick had to do with raising a child! Ha ha.