listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost

Valentine's Day isn't a big deal for Ryan and I.  Our anniversary is a week later and we would rather celebrate that day together.  However, I usually fix a nicer meal and invite Ryan's mom over for a Valentine's dinner. This year was the same.....

I woke up in the middle of the night.  My first prompting was to go do my grocery shopping now while everyone was asleep.  I turned the idea down thinking after about an hour I would go back to sleep.  I did but when I awake my schedule was thrown off.  You know how it goes....in my head I had planned to be at the grocery store by 7:00am, leaving the kids with Ryan.  However, I didn't get to the store until around 10:00am and I had the kiddos.  I bought what I needed, picked up lunch for the kids and headed home.  Just in time to put groceries away, eat, then take Kayla to Grandma Phillips and head to Adrian's school where I volunteer every Monday.  I had exactly one hour.  Groceries were brought in and the kids were eating.  Then I happened to bump the counter and the bag flew to the floor.  Broken pickle jar and poppy seed dressing all over the floor.  What in the world was I going to do?  Trying to keep a 2 and 5 year old outta of the kitchen is a little difficult.  It took me most of the hour, then we headed out the door.  Kayla went to Grandma's then Adrian and I headed to school.  Right after school I headed back to the grocery store to pick up my Poppy seed dressing for dinner. 

Upon arriving at home I looked next door and saw neighbor sitting with his dog.  I have said hello a few times and have seen him at church.  There was a look about him, like the weight of the world was upon his shoulders and he looked kind of sad.  I immediately heard a voice that said "Invite him to dinner."  I looked at him and entered the house.  I said "Lord, my house isn't clean enough for dinner guest. I have boxes I am still unpacking and my place just isn't perfect enough to have them over."  Very quietly the voice came again "Invite him and his family over."  I again began my dialog with the Lord, "Dinner isn't even started yet.  It's Valentine's day...what about their dinner together? Ok....I won't have you tell me again.  I'll go."  I gotta on the phone and called Ryan.  "I am going with the Spirit, I don't know what the neighbors will say but I am inviting them to dinner.  I need you know for help, please!"  My supportive husband who hears my "visionary" stories told me he would be right over.  I headed next door to invite the neighbors. They were very excited about having dinner with us.  I rushed home, cooked dinner and made dessert.  My mother in law, the neighbors and our family had a wonderful Valentine's dinner. 

I never understood why I was guided to invite the neighbors to dinner until today at church.  I happened to stop and chat with my neighbor.  He thanked me for inviting him and his family over for dinner (him, his wife and a son....they are grandma/grandpa folks).  He told me how he had gone to the doctor that day and received some bad news concerning his eye site.  He said that he had been struggling all day with the news and was down.  He thanked me again and said his whole family needed what we gave them.......just a simple dinner.  We finished our chat and I headed to Sunday School.

I am very grateful to have the Holy Ghost whisper quiet promptings to me.  I wonder what his day would have been like if I didn't heed to the prompting.  What if I let my house stand in the way of inviting guest over for dinner?  Listening to the promptings of the Spirit allowed us to begin a friendship with good neighbors.  I look forward to our new adventures.  May you all have a happy Sabbath!!