The Long Line of the Lonely

We were asked to teach Relief Society in Plano 3rd Ward.  They told us we could choose the topic, so we decided to introduce the sisters to "The Long Line of the Lonely".  The subject came from a talk by Pres. Monson several years ago.  He was referring to the many widow's he had served when he was a bishop.  It seemed appropriate to share it at the end of my mission, as a testimony of this opportunity to serve and grow.  I shared some experiences we've had while serving our mission here in Plano, and told them about the lonely sisters we've seen.  These sisters were widows, homebound, in nursing homes, and suffering with tragedy in their lives.


"First, let me take you to the nursing home.  It's a big facility.  The owner keeps the gardens beautiful, but it is evident that this nursing home is for those who don't have much money.  It's probably funded, in part, by the state.  As you enter and begin to walk down the hall you notice several elderly people sitting in wheel chairs along the way.  They have a distant look in their eyes. 


There's an oriental man who doesn't talk, but always looks at us and puts his hand out.  He just wants someone to acknowledge him and hold his hand for a moment.  Continuing on we find a sweet woman who looks to be about 45.  Her head is leaning to the side, as she cannot support it.  She has Muscular Distrophy.  We stop to say "Hi", and bend down to look into her face.  We always say, "Hi, Daryl, how are you doing today?"  Her answer is continuously, "I'm fantastic!"  She likes chocolate, so we received permission to bring her a small piece when we come.


Ruth is another woman we met there.  She gets around better than most of the people.  She's always happy to see us, and knows we're missionaries for the church.  She enjoys having a short visit with us.  Another woman along our route is always sitting in a chair.  She smiles when she sees us coming, and usually has some nice comment about our clothes.  She has some mental problems and talks about strange things sometimes. 


There are many others we greet as we move along to our destination.  We've been visiting Sis. Adams every week since we arrived.  She's flat in bed, and rarely able to sit up.  She has a very strong testimony of the gospel, and often asks us about things she wants to share with the people there.  She's very smart and has been interesting to talk with.  As the time has passed she's begun to sleep more, and sometimes talks about the little bird that comes in and sits on her shoulder.  We see her breaking up bread crumbs for him.  He's a place she goes in her mind when she's lonely.....


Sis. Alarcon is our next stop.  She has Alzheimer's, but always greets us with a smile.  She's a beautiful sister who grew up in Chili.  She's in the advanced stages of the disease now.  It was very difficult for her daughter to accept that she needed more care than she could give at home.  We read  stories to her from children's books.  She likes the pictures so we try to find ones that are extra colorful.


We visit many other sisters every week, a young girl who struggles with alcoholism, another young woman with Alzheimer's, a blind sister, and others who are having severe health problems.  In each case they're in need of extra love.  There are so many people in this world who are displaced or alone.  Perhaps it's the person sitting next to you at church.  Perhaps you thought she had everything she ever needs, but each one of us suffer with trials and loneliness at times.  I love the following quote:
"The best way to survive loneliness is to redirect our tremendous hunger for connectedness.  For we have no power to make others understand or value us.  We can, however, make a spiritual practice of trying to understand and value others".


Yes, loneliness is a tremendous hunger and yearning to be connected.  People always need people.   Heavenly Father knew and understood that need.  He's patterned his church to fulfill that need in each of His children.  We are indeed the instruments he uses to care for each other.  It would be well for us to be more conscious of that as we live our lives. 


The thing I've learned most while serveing here is the great capacity I have to love everyone.  That has become my joy and my strength.  I will forever be grateful for the blessing of serving on this mission.  As I've done so, I've found wonderful friends and known the blessings that come from bringing some light into the eyes of my sisters.  I see them as someone I once knew, before I came to earth.  It's been a joyful reunion!"