I’ve been in the Relief Society Presidency for over a year now. While we don’t have the most exciting activities, we seem to be doing an ok job. We take care of the people who have surgery or babies, and I make sure there is always a lesson on Sunday. But we hadn’t had to take care of a funeral.
Until this week.
We did a funeral luncheon today for a man, who, while technically a member, many of the ward didn’t know. But the people on the street where he lived all knew him, and they were very helpful in pitching in food for the lunch. We got everything ready over at the daughter’s home while they were at the funeral. The daughter is also a member, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her at church. If I hadn’t been her visiting teacher a while back, I wouldn’t know who she was. But the whole family lives on the street, on land that their dad bought originally. I think it was a very nice luncheon spread. There was a TON of food, and really only about 30-35 family members came for lunch. I didn’t stay very long after it had started, because I kind of felt in the way. It wasn’t like at the church when you can sneak back into the kitchen, this was their house, and they didn’t know me and wondered what I was doing there in the kitchen once we started.
But we did it.
Got through a funeral lunch.
Can we be released now?
(Just kidding. Mostly)
Well, now you have been broken in. You just can’t serve in the RS without doing a funeral. We have quite a few in our ward. I’m sure you did a great job taking care of things.
Funny, when I look back at my service in the RS presidency (in CA), it was those luncheons when I most felt I was doing the Lord’s work. Those are tender moments and it is such a privilege for the family to allow us in to serve them. Good work, friend.