Daily Answers: Ministering to Penny

​I am assigned to minister to Penny. I had the privilege of also ministering to her mother, Ruth, until her death in March. Ruth was 99 years old. Penny has been living with her mother and taking care of her for many years. Visiting with Ruth and Penny in their home was like experiencing a piece of heaven. Time seemed slower and there was peace and love there. Penny is now getting the house ready to sell and will move to Washington to be with her daughter.

My scripture study question for today was, "What can I do for Penny?" With the COVID-19 restrictions, I can't help her pack and clean, and I can't even visit with her in person. I read in Mosiah 6 about king Benjamin putting his people under covenant, the people returning to their homes, and king Benjamin conferring the kingdom on his son Mosiah after having served his people faithfully. I have covenanted to serve and thus minister to Penny. As I read that king Benjamin's people "returned every one, according to their families, to their own houses," I was given peace about Penny's decision to leave Idaho and return to her family in Washington. And I saw a parallel between king Benjamin's service to his people and Penny's service to her mom. Penny suffers from her own medical conditions, but she was pleasant and positive to be around. Penny served me and others by remembering details of our lives, asking questions, and being sincerely interested. While Ruth was on hospice, there were visits from nurses, shower aids, doctors, and a house cleaner. Towards the end, there were more people caring for Ruth. All of these people felt loved and valued by Penny and Ruth.
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My scripture study answer today gave me a better understanding of ministering, service, and families. An idea did come to me to text Penny about some items I posted on Facebook that she is trying to get rid of or sell. I received knowledge and a prompting to act, although small.