Several years ago, I was assigned to be a Visiting Teacher to an elderly lady named Mavis. She lived in the basement of one of her daughter’s homes. Her home was decorated with amazing pictures, trinkets and momentos. She loved to share the story behind each one, and we spent most of our visiting time just listening as she relived memories, and shared stories about her children, going to the temple, and the things she was involved in doing.
At first it was hard for me to enjoy these visits. I was a young mother with several young children, and time was precious. I was a little annoyed when visits would go on longer than I had anticipated. That changed, as I decided to set more time to enjoy these visits. I found that we had much in common. Mavis and I both loved music. She used to write children’s songs with a friend. She wrote many lyrics for songs that were sung in Elementary schools. I learned to love Mavis and loved our visits.
One time she shared with me the story of her and her husband. It was the sweetest, most amazing story. I’m sure I’ve gotten some of the details wrong, but I wanted to share it with you.
They both lived in a small town where everyone knew each other. Though she had seen and knew the young man, they had never dated before he asked her if she would marry him. Mavis liked the boy enough, but she told him that she couldn’t marry him because she wanted to be married in the temple. She bore her testimony and left the young boy wondering, having been unaware of her beliefs.
He walked home sadly, but amazingly enough (and it WAS a small town), the bishop of her ward drove by and saw him walking. He asked if he wanted a ride, and the boy agreed. He told the bishop what had happened, and after a good talk with the bishop decided he wanted to find out more about the church.
The next several months were spent reading the scriptures and studying. Mavis explained how the church worked. They went to church together, and Mavis shared with him the gospel, teaching him all the terms, procedures, and nuances of being a member of the church. The young man gained a testimony of his own, and the two were sealed in the temple.
They lived happily for many years, and had quite a big family (I think it was seven children), before her husband suddenly died, leaving her a widow with those many children.
I imagine life was pretty difficult for her, but Mavis never dwells on the negative. She said her life had been much better than she’d imagined. She had wonderful children who had blessed her life, and having never remarried, she looked forward to the day she would be with him again. It was so sweet. Her life was such an inspiration to me. I knew I wanted to write a song about her story.
I tried to write that song for several years. For some reason, it was very difficult for me to finish. We ended up moving, and I wanted to finish that song for her before I left, so I could sing it for her. I wasn’t able to. I finished the song, but it never worked out for me to come to perform it, either I was gone, or she was. I even drove back a couple times, but she wasn’t home.
I decided that maybe I could get the song orchestrated and then I could send it to her. Time went by, and I didn’t know if I would ever get the chance to play it for her.
Well, the song I wrote, called “Let me Show You Around” is one of the songs, that amazingly fit perfectly into my musical. It comes right after the First Act, and is the transitioning point in my play. Of course I modeled my character after her. In the musical, I have an elderly lady who shares her story with the two Visiting sisters. It’s a tear jerker. The song worked alright by itself, but it really needed to be in context with the story. Through the musical I was able to do that, I think it was the only way it could have been done.
I invited Mavis to come see the musical when it was performed last month. I was excited for her to finally be able to hear the song. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to make it. I was very disappointed. It made me wonder again how and when I would be able to share this song with her. The song was written for her. I’m sure the Lord must have a special time or place for it.
I have had a hard time feeling motivated to finish the final script for my musical. I don’t really have a deadline, and so it’s been a lower priority to me. I prayed though that I would have more of a desire to work on it, if that was something I should do.
Well this morning I called Mavis. I wasnted to make sure that she was okay. She is. It’s actually her birthday today. She thinks she is turning 88 (She couldn’t quite remember for sure!) She told me that it was just due to an oversight that she wasn’t able to come. She had been very disappointed. She asked me if I thought they could perform it in her Stake (my old one!). I told her I’d love it, but that I would have to finish my script up. How do you like that? It’s another deadline. I feel motivated and excited to finish it. I’m doing it for Mavis. I want her to hear my song.
I love Mavis. I loved talking to her. She is so sweet. As I’ve reflected on the love I have for her, I just can’t help but to be so grateful again for the Visiting Teaching program. Without it, I would have never met her!