When Things Go Right . . . For a Change!

Having a wander round our local shops, he is his usual talkative self, when we got chatting to a lady in the supermarket. I say we, it was more like Charley! This is how it went:

Me: Charley, please be quick I don’t feel to good and I want to go home
Charley: Mum, I know you can do it, just be brave a little longer, ok?
Me: uh huh {feeling like the child now}

Lady comes along down the same aisle and accidentally knocks Charley with her basket. She immediately turns round and apologised to him, asks if he’s ok and generally fusses. I stand there just watching, probably looking right a lemon if the truth is knows with runny eyes and watering nose!

Charley: its ok, these things happen
Lady: You’re so kind
Charley: I know, thank you
Lady: So you’re having a magazine eh?
Charley: yup, but they don’t have captain Moroni and I need one for church
Lady: captain Moroni? I don’t think I’ve heard of him
Charley: You haven’t? {shocked} you should, he’s so cool
Lady: and what programme is he in then?
Charley: Silly, he’s not on TV; he’s too old for that. He’s in my book of Mormon stories

Lady: {even more puzzled looks at me for help} Ooh

I then explain that we go to the Latter Day Saint church and Captain Moroni is one of the old Prophets in the Book of Mormon

Lady: Ah I see. And do you want to be like Captain Moroni?
Charley: Oh yeah! I want to be big and strong and tell everyone to listen to God and stop being naughty
Me: Chuckle in the background
Lady: Well that’s just incredible. What does else does this Captain Moroni do?

Charley: I tell you what, I’ll give you my Book of Mormon stories and you can borrow it
Lady: You are so kind but I couldn’t take your book
Charley: its ok, my Mum will get another one
Me: mouth hanging now!

Charley carried on telling this lady all about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I say all about, I mean in the terms and understanding of a 4 year old. In all we were there for a good 30 minutes and at no point was this lady in a hurry to leave. Shoppers came and went, staff hovered and moved around us and I shifted from one foot to the other.

Eventually Charley said: Would you like to come to church with me tomorrow? You will have lots of fun.
Lady: You know, I would love to go to your church tomorrow, where is it?

At this point she looked at me. I wondered if she was humouring him or not but she continued to look at me so I offered up the information. She was very aware of our chapel’s location and commented on how well the grounds were always kept. I informed her that tomorrow is Stake Conference and we would be in Cheltenham and she was more than welcome to come with us. After a chat about what a Stake Conference is she decided she would rather go to our chapel next week.

Charley interrupted at the perfect moment and said: You ARE going to come aren’t you? I will wait for you at the door.
Lady: Yes Charley, I will go and I will look forward to seeing you there.

I was careful to ensure I had her number before I gave mine out so I could at least follow up with her in a few days time.

Walking back up the road to go home we saw a friend and walked up with her, chatting and catching up. She asked if she could call in later to drop off some chocolates for the kids for Easter, I said sure, just pop round when you’re ready.

Imagine Charley’s and my surprise when her companion was the lady in the shop! We all just chuckled over the irony of it. But it’s not irony is it? It’s the Lord’s work at hand.

While we adults tried to chat, Charley was the perfect missionary and related a few stories from the book of Mormon, including Captain Moroni, accompanied by his figure and some cards that held more information about him.

Lyn and Charley were like instant friends, she wasn’t just being polite to him, she connected with him and that was something priceless.

I did get complimented on his manners, intelligence, knowledge and clarity of expression. Ordinarily I would have just shrugged my shoulders and said ‘it’s just who he is’ but in reality I know that Charley knows this information because I have chosen to live the gospel the best I can, I have chosen to put as many of the principles in my life as I’m able, including teaching my children. As I sit here typing this out I am thanking my Heavenly Father for touching me so much that I accepted the invitation to baptism and continue, through Jesus Christ to do all I can. My son is a really cool guy and I am so looking forward to the day I can see him pass sacrament round the way my older son used to. I am extremely grateful that Charley feels the spirit and trusts in me as well as Jesus {who he calls his best friend} enough to speak with such conviction. I just hope he keeps that kind of testimony as he graduates through his primary years. I look at the time, effort and commitment given by the primary leaders, I look at their list of activities, even their handmade invitations, oh how I so love these people who obviously love the Lord and these children so much. I couldn’t wish for better people to be teaching my son the gospel and all the other wonderful things he learns along the way.

For more of Debs, waffle over on Life as Me.