{"id":11264,"date":"2020-07-30T11:23:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-30T17:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reliefsocietywomen.com\/blog\/?p=11264"},"modified":"2020-07-30T11:29:52","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T17:29:52","slug":"and-my-soul-cries-is-anyone-there","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reliefsocietywomen.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/30\/and-my-soul-cries-is-anyone-there\/","title":{"rendered":"And My Soul Cries, “Is Anyone There?”"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m a late bloomer. It wasn\u2019t until I was in the first years of my visiting teaching that I realized just how much service is truly a gift for those who feel alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sis. Joy F. Evans<\/a> (counselor in the RS presidency) spoke in April 1989 about this topic. She explains how there are people all around us who are crying out:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI needed you\u2014I couldn\u2019t find you\u2014I don\u2019t need you anymore.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Either we aren\u2019t seeing them, listening for them, our paying attention. Let\u2019s be honest, sometimes we spend too much time seeing, listening to, and paying attention to ourselves and our own needs. I\u2019m guilty of that and it hits home when I realize I missed another opportunity to help someone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuing, she expresses this encouraging thought: \u201cWhat we do or say is not as important as that we do or say something\u2014\u201cI care about you,\u201d or \u201cLet me help.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, we just don\u2019t know what to do for someone. Or what to say. Or how to approach them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quoting from the Reader\u2019s Digest, she shares a story about someone offering service during a family\u2019s crisis by shining their shoes. It seemed off the wall, yet it was something. It was thoughtful, and well-meaning, and ended up being more than appreciated.<\/span><\/p>\n

As we wait out this pandemic, we have all felt the fear and frustration of being alone, being cooped up, and not being able to go about our usual business. We struggle finding ways to keep our children busy and our household going in limited conditions. And how high on the list is our ministering assignment? Are we checking up on our sisters?<\/span><\/p>\n

No, I\u2019m not shaming anyone. I am about to offer some suggestions that may lift us and others out of the doldrums.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ideas for ministering to your sisters during this pandemic, and ever more<\/span><\/h2>\n