I have now been wearing My Big Yellow Button everywhere I go for several days. And mostly I have just received positive comments from other Mormons simply telling me they "love my button," etc. But a few individuals have taken it a step further and asked me for a Big Yellow Button of their own! Isn't that great?! I only ask that as they have "button experiences" of their own they email me and let me know about them so I can post them here on this blog. Wouldn't it be so amazing to have people all over having everyday missionary experiences and sharing them here?
As for me personally, I have noticed something interesting. Simply by choosing to be brave enough to wear my button, I have already become more brave in sharing the gospel in other ways. For example, Tuesday night my ward had a Relief Society activity. I always try to attend, but this time while wearing my button, I also went to my new next-door neighbor, Lucy, AND my neighbor across the street, Jane, and invited them both to come with me. And guess what...they both accepted! When I invited her, Jane had said, "I would love to come with you, but are you sure it's okay I am not a Mormon?" I know that too often our non-member neighbors feel like "the Mormons" are a special "club" and they are not welcome. And that is definitely an understandable misconception we all should work hard to change. All three of us had a fabulous time at the activity and Lucy and Jane were both able to meet some other ladies from our ward. In addition I know they felt the spirit of love and friendship that abounds among the sisters of my ward, and hopefully the presence of the Holy Ghost as well. It's a great place to start.
Then today I spotted Lucy's boyfriend, Van, and walked over to say hi. He greeted me and then said, "Hey - so Lucy was telling me about the yellow button you were wearing on Tuesday....she really liked it. She is impressed when someone knows what they believe in and aren't afraid to stand up and let it be known." Just then Lucy came out of the house and added, "Yeah, I meant to tell you, I really liked your button." I then got the chance to explain to them that I have observed that many people are afraid to ask questions because they don't want to be impolite or whatever. But that actually, Mormons LOVE IT when non-members have questions! This led into a discussion where I was able to explain to Lucy what the name "Relief Society" meant and the purpose of it. Her response was something like, "That's pretty cool." And by then it had started pouring rain and my 5-year-old had wandered over and was tugging on my hand begging for me to come home because she was scared of the storm. So that effectively ended the conversation.
But what a great conversation! Besides the fact that I was able to share a little bit about the organization of our church, I learned something very important---Not only was my new, non-member neighbor friend not offended or annoyed by My Big Yellow Button, she was actually impressed by it! So much so that she went home and told her boyfriend about it. :) That, my friends, is excellent feedback. That reaction further bolsters my courage to wear My Big Yellow Button everyday. I know it isn't realistic to expect miraculous "button experiences" every day, just as full-time missionaries don't find "golden contacts" everyday; but I do have faith that if I continue wear it, those experiences will come.
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