Penny's Pity Pot

   (Washington Stake RS Presidency, standing Kathy Gardner, Penny Cluff; sitting, Sue Jolley, Linda Schimbeck;  Three of the greatest women I have been blessed to know)

 We had some hard family news this week, directly following the news from the owner of the business we lease to at our shop.  He told Walt that he could rent a shop down the road a little bigger than ours with fenced black top (our fenced is gravel) for $1000.00 less than he rents from us.  When Walt told me, he premised with the words "I have some bad news".  I was elated the man did not say he was going out of business.  Walt is going to negotiate a lower rent.  Therefore, it has been easy to be weighed down with the challenges of life, and climb on for a bumpy ride on the Pity Pot.

     The ride on the pity pot ended tonight.  I serve as Stake Relief Society President and as part of my stewardship, I go on Stake visits with designated ward leadership.  This ward presidency member had lined up two visits, one of which greatly humbled me.  After being introduced, I inquired about the two cute children clamoring for the sister's lap.  This very young grandmother explained that she watched over her grandchildren most of the time due to some "serious problems" her daughter had in caring for them.  She said she keeps a mattress in the other room where they can sleep and be comfortable.  One was 9 months the other 2 1/2.   The presidency member asked if the medicine she was taking was still making her exhausted.  I found out that she is battling cancer and has to be on a med for a much longer period of time.  She explained that she was working in a doctors office, a job she had enjoyed for thirteen years, until she got cancer and had to have surgury.  With a sweet smile, she said it coincided with having to watch over her grandchildren, so perhaps it was a good thing.   I asked if she had ever wondered how hard it would be to go through this tribulation without the comfort of the gospel.  She said the peace of the gospel was what pulled her through, and especially this week.  She explained that her husband had owned a fence business and had to close it last year.  He was able to get a job a few months ago, but had just found out that company was closing its doors and he is once again without work.   Her youngest son, about ten years old, needed help with his homework so we left.  I could not leave until I embraced her.  As I held her to me, I was humbled to the marrow of my bones.