That They May Be Light

How can we "bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light?" I think Solomon answered this question when he scribed the 17th verse of the 17th chapter of Proverbs: "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

I just got off the phone with one of my most trusted, closest friends. She is one of those friends that you could call at 3:08 in the morning and she would not care one bit if there was something that you really needed, or even if you just needed to talk. Luckily for her, I didn't call her at 3:08 in the morning, but I still just needed to talk. She took the time to talk, doing her very best to keep her kids occupied doing other things while we had our conversation, so that she could totally focus on what I had to say. Even when her daughter painted her doll's face and legs with nail polish, she stayed with me, redirected her daughter gently and lovingly, and then continued our conversation.

So how can we be this type of friend? Lynn has taught me how to do this through his marvelous example and love of home teaching. When he was called to be a High Priest, I got to go home-teaching with him. That has since changed, and I miss the opportunity to go with him, but in the time that I did get to go I learned so much. For Lynn, home teaching isn't just about visiting someone once a month. It is about becoming their friend.

As I got to go with Lynn home teaching, I got to see a side of him that I had not seen before. I got to see him prepare lessons that I had never noticed before, because he got to involve me in the visits. He would carefully plan each lesson for the particular family or individual that we would be visiting, catering it to each individual's needs or personality. If children would be involved in the lesson, he would make up a game to play. If the lesson was for an intelligent, competitive individual, he would alter the game for them. He still does this, I just don't get to see it as much, since I don't go with him anymore.

When we say our family prayers, he prays for his home teaching families - individually. Throughout the month, he makes sure he knows what is happening in each home and calls to check on those he watches over. He invites these families over to our home outside of home-teaching, for dinner, games, or campfires. Truly, Lynn becomes friends with those that he home-teaches. And I have made incredible friendships in the time I have had to go with him.

I believe that it is not until we become a friend to those we watch over that we can bear one another's burdens. Then will we be able to sympathize. Then will we be able to empathize. Then will we be able to cry with each other, to share fears, to confide in one another. Then will we be able to "bear one another's burdens, that they may be light...mourn with those that mourn...and comfort those that stand in need of comfort."

If, by the end of your life, you can count even on one hand the number of true friends that you have, be grateful indeed. I am.