{bringing relief}

During April 2012 General Conference, Elder Rasband gave a talk entitled "Special Lessons" {http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/special-lessons?lang=eng}. The whole talk is inspiring, but there is one phrase that has been in the back of my mind for a few months now.

In his talk Elder Rasband stated: "If you come upon a person who is drowning, would you ask if they need help---or would it be better to just jump in and save them from the deepening waters? The offer, while well meaning and often given 'Let me know if I can help' is really no help at all."

How many times have I asked 'Let me know if I can help?' More than I can count. What a concept. As I heard this statement I thought it my head, well yeah, if someone were drowning I would jump in and save them. And vice versa, if I were drowning, I wouldn't want someone to hesitate, but rather to jump right in {with no need for consent from me} and help me get my head above water.

But, how many times are people around us emotionally, spiritually, or mentally drowning? How many people just need someone to knock on their door with a meal, or let someone know "I will be watching your kids for you; what day is best?"

I'll never forget a story I heard from Sister Julie Beck. She told of one particularly hard and busy time while serving as general relief society---her family was sick, and she was traveling, and just really busy. One day her visiting teacher showed up with hot soup and just started ironing clothes for Sister Beck. And that's what her visiting teacher did for her in that moment. No official lesson, no message from the Ensign.

Sister Beck went on to say in regards to the visiting teaching message for that month "I wrote that lesson, but that's not what I needed."

Sister Julie B. Beck---the one who wrote that message in the Ensign---didn't need that lesson for that month. Instead, she needed physical relief. And that's what the Relief Society is all about---bringing relief. 

For me, visiting teaching has mostly been a "when can we come and visit you this month and leave a message?" to-do item on a check list. Sure, when birthdays or big events come, I'll take something over, or state the now-unwanted phrase: "Let me know if I can help." Or, the classic, "let us know if we can do anything."

While the visting teaching messages for each month are great and valuable, and should be regularly shared,  adaptation to the actual needs of those we are asked to bring relief to is important.

Now when I am about to say, "let me know if I can help" it can't quite roll off my tongue completely. And then I start thinking, well what should I do? How should I say it? It's not easy, and I'm pretty sure it's a skill that is learned.

I know I can definitely improve how I respond to those who are drowning---to just jump in and help, no matter the awkwardness or time it takes or whatever the excuse may be. It's the gospel of Jesus Christ, it's the Relief Society, and it's a happy way to live.