The Best Gift

A few years ago I felt prompted that my family needed to move closer to where both my husband and I work. After looking at several options, we found a home that was about 10 minutes from my work, and situated halfway between mine and my husband's jobs. I was excited about the prospect of no longer having to commute 45 minutes each way every day. But it was a difficult transition for our children, so it was not an easy decision to make. One of the things that particularly interested me about the house that we liked was that it was within the stake boundaries of where the deaf ward meets. I am a sign language interpreter, so I felt very strongly that we had been led to this particular area. One day a few months after we had moved in, I felt very strongly that I needed to attend the deaf ward sacrament meeting which started while I was in the middle of Sunday school in my ward in a different building. I turned to my husband and whispered, " I feel like I have to go to the deaf ward right now." So I got up and left Sunday school. When I arrived at the Deaf ward, I found that there was no interpreter there and when I walked in the door someone said, "can you interpret?" I said that I could and I interpreted the meeting. The way that it works in the deaf ward is that almost all of what is said is in sign language from the pulpit. So as an interpreter, I sit in the congregation with a cordless microphone and voice in English for those who are hearing and do not understand sign language well. Afterwards I was asked if I would like to interpret on a regular basis in the ward. I had been secretly hoping to be asked, so of course I said yes. After a few months I requested that it be an official calling, since I felt I needed the extra inspiration that would be available to me by having hands laid upon my head, so that I might have the spirit of inspiration. I was soon set apart and I have been interpreting for the last few years in that ward now. There are several interpreters in the ward, but I think I am the only one who is within the stake but not in the deaf ward. Most are hearing spouses of deaf members. I go and interpret sacrament meetings twice a month and also interpret other meetings occasionally as needed. I have had several people tell me how much they appreciate my interpreting and that I'm very clear and easy to understand. I always appreciate such comments as that. Today, however, I received a special complement. I had to get up and leave the meeting early, because I was due to sing in a choir in another sacrament meeting and had to drive there so I left the meeting before the closing song. As I was about to leave the chapel, a hearing woman whose husband is deaf, sitting in the back row, turned around to me and handed me something. It was a bag of chocolate and attached was a note. It said "Thank you so much for the service you give each week in [The Deaf] Ward Sacrament meeting. It has truly been a blessing to us as we transitioned to ASL and into this ward over the last six months. You are one of our angels! Happy Christmas!" I was so touched by the simple note of thanks! Maybe she gave them to all of the interpreters in the ward, because I'm sure I'm not the only one who has helped her. I felt bad because I hadn't even remembered what her name was when she handed me the gift. I may not know her, but she knew me. My point is--well, actually there are two points. Number one is that sometimes we don't realize just how much we impact the lives of others. I knew that I was sharing my talents, and I felt good about the service that I have been giving, but I didn't realize just how much I had impacted others by what I did. You never know who is being blessed by what you do. My second point is that we need to express appreciation to those who have affected our lives so that they will know it. As I sat in sacrament meeting today, I felt inspired that I needed to express appreciation to my mother for all of the wonderful service that she has given to each member of our family throughout our lives. You see, lately my mother has felt unappreciated and that no one really loves her or needs her anymore. She needs to know that that is not true! So I contacted each of my brothers and their children and grandchildren and ask that each of them right a short thought about something that they remember where my mother has done something with them or for them that they have appreciated. Then when we gather for Christmas this year, I want each person to sit in a chair, one by one, directly in front of her and hold her hand and tell her how she has impacted their life. Afterwards we will gather all of the written notes and put them into a book for her that so that she can keep those memories forever. I know that this will be the best Christmas gift we could possibly give to her. It will mean so much more to her that anything we could ever buy from a store. To know that her family loves her will mean more to her than anything else. It really lifted my spirits and made my day when I received this sweet simple thank you note from that woman in the deaf ward. Is there anyone you can think of who has had an impact on your life? Maybe you could boost their spirits if you were to write a simple thank you note. (Oh, and a little chocolate doesn't hurt either!)