The Charity That Truly Faileth

I try not to let things bother me, I know I should just let things roll off my back. But sometimes people do things that seem so out of context and rude that it really bothers me.

Case and point, after an exhausting week where I was not feeling well, sleeping maybe six hours a night and then performing in a play throughout the week, I wasn’t in top form when I arrived at church yesterday.

I taught my Gospel Doctrine Lesson and felt really blessed it went as well as it did, in spite of how exhausted and sick I felt.

Admittedly, I ran a few minutes over, and I was trying to clear out of the Relief Society room as fast as I could and talk to a man who had some questions about what we had discussed in my lesson. When all of a sudden, something happened that changed me in a deep and a profound way for the rest of the day.

A hasty sister interrupted my conversion with this elderly man and said sarcastically, “Yeah...nice lesson. Seriously, we need to set up for Relief Society (with her voice going up at the end)”. Then she briskly put the traditional lacey fabric on the table and then sat down.

And I stood there wondering what would be the proper response to this sweet sister.

Now, I may not be an expert on the Relief Society Organization, and I have to admit I don’t really understand why the “tablecloth” is an essential part of worship services for the good sisters, but I seem to recall the motto for the Relief Society is “Charity Never Faileth”. Am I wrong in thinking that? I am pretty sure I am right.

But when a good sister approaches me in the way she did, I want to say a little something like this, “(clearing my throat) Sweet sister, you better check yourself, before you wreck yourself. Some of us, mostly me, who are sick, running on no sleep and feel that if they didn’t have to teach a lesson today, would be home, sick in bed. And when people are treated the way you just treated me…well ...it just makes me want to toilet paper your house."

And then I would walk away and then yell across the Relief Society Room, “Oh and by the way, if the motto of the Relief Society is “Charity Never Faileth”, which I do believe it is, your charity my good sister, faileth pretty bad. If you get worked up about making sure the table cloth is set, I would hate to see you in a real crisis.”

Then I would say, “Good day, Madam!”, and turn on my heal and walk out.

Instead of saying all that I just smiled and walked away like any good person would do.

Interestingly enough, she did wake up to her entire house covered in toilet paper…but I wouldn’t know anything about that.