Tighten the Net
| by Alice Gifford Here is an idea I found in Sister Elaine Jacks book, "Eye to Eye, Heart to Heart" as she talks about unity. (pg. 133) Here is the general idea. Using a big Fish Net - Spread it on the floor. Ask everyone to stand around the fish net and lift together. Then, have some raise their hands high. What happens to the net? What happens if some of you let go? Next, have everyone hold the net with both hands and pull it gently towards you. What happens? The net becomes tight and strong. Helaman 6:3 - … "Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy." What would have happened if the church members had ignored the newly converted Lamanities….who may have looked different, who were "outsiders", and may have at one point fought against the Nephites and their beliefs? Would the Lamanites have continued to come to church? Would they have felt the pure love of Christ? Nothing makes me sadder than when I see or learn of one of our young women who do not feel accepted by her "church friends". My heart aches for them and I wish I could somehow help the other young women understand how much "they" need "each other". If you've ever been the "new kid" you understand how difficult it can be to walk into a room full of people you don't know and may not have much in common with. During my Jr. year in high school, I joined the church, and moved into a foster home in another city. I felt very alone - - at first. I remember sitting on my bed wondering why I agreed to move. I missed my friends, I missed the comfort of familiar surroundings, I missed my brothers and sister! Then the phone started ringing. I was invited to attend Mutual by the girl down the street and did I need a ride to school the next day? There are many moments that I treasure from that time in my life but the ones that comes back most often are the ones involving the girls in my ward. I ended up having a lot of friends at school. I immediately was integrated into a fun group of kids who made my life fun and happy. But the people who I think made the greatest impact, and that I am most grateful to, are the youth in my ward. They made the difference. They were not the kids I ate lunch with at school, or went to dances with, or just hung out with...but that didn't matter to them. They made sure I was a part of the ward family at church. They made sure I felt welcome and needed. They smiled, they made room for me to sit by them. How grateful I am for their net and their gently pulling that kept me safely on a tight and strong net during my early moments in the church. The Apostle Paul teaches that charity – the pure love of Christ - endures forever and can never fail. Only we fail when we refuse to have charity in our hearts for others. So get those fish nets out and go catch a fish or two and then hold them tight :-) ...but don't squish them -LOL
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