Soon after we moved, I was asked to serve as the Sunday school teacher for the youth ages 12-13 in our ward. To say that I was delighted would be an extreme understatement of my feelings about the calling. I was excited beyond all measure. I was honored and humbled that the Lord wanted me to work with the youth - the future leaders of His church. I grew to love the youth in my class quickly and I looked forward to our class each Sunday.

I'd only been a Sunday school teacher for about two months when I was asked to serve in the Young Women's presidency in our ward. I was shocked that a different calling had come to me so quickly. Being the ridiculous person that I am, I was a little worried at first that maybe I had done something wrong as a teacher and the Lord needed to put me somewhere else. It was my first time teaching, and perhaps I had messed up and I didn't even realize it! I quickly realized, however, that this thought was absurd. The more I thought about it, the more I realized the Lord's influence in the unfolding of these events.

I didn't wean Kate until she was 12 months old, which made Sundays hard because she usually wanted to eat in the middle of church. So, I had to leave my class or meeting to go feed her. This made church difficult, and it would have been even more difficult for me to be able to fulfill my responsibilities as a Young Women's leader. For those who don't know, part of being a Young Women's leader is planning and attending activities every Wednesday night. Kate still had a small feeding right before bed, and she goes to bed right when I would need to be gone for these activities.

It was only a week after I began weaning Kate that I was asked to serve in the Young Women's presidency. Coincidence? I think not. The Lord knew what I could handle, and He waited until I was in a position to magnify my calling. The calling will still stretch me and push me, but I feel more capable now than I would have felt three or four months ago. The Lord has a work for me to do, but He also has my individual circumstances and my capabilities in mind. I am so grateful for His kindness and His tenderness to me.

In addition, I know that the fact that I still get to work with the youth is a tender mercy from the Lord. I discovered in the short two months that I taught Sunday school that I LOVE the youth. As I've looked back on my leaders and how much they influenced my life and how much I love them, I can only hope that I can be that kind of a leader to the youth around me. And although I don't feel old enough to be a leader, I have faith that who the Lord calls, He qualifies.

I love my Heavenly Father. I know that He always has His children's best interest in mind.  I know that if we will just trust in His will and His timing, everything will turn out for the best and all will be well in the end (as well as on the journey that takes us there). As we look back on our journey, we will be able to look back and see without a doubt that He had us in mind the whole time.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6