Circle of Sisters

Volleyball is my favorite sport to watch my daughter play.  There is such teamwork and camaraderie among the players that I haven’t seen in other sports.  Every person has their position to play, their job to do, and the group’s success depends on each individual’s effort and execution.

Now I don’t know if every team does this, but I was intrigued at something my daughter’s team does.  After each volley, whether it is a point or side out, or even if the ball is turned over to the other team, they all come together from their various positions in a little huddle.  

With their arms around each other’s backs, they encourage each other with positive comments and cheer each other on.  What I especially admire is that whenever there is a mistake made, the person who made the mistake pats their chest in a “my bad” gesture, acknowledging their error, and in an unspoken way, pledging that they are going to try harder.  Their coach is on the sidelines calling plays and giving instructions, but they have to really listen to hear her voice above the noise of the crowd.  And except when a timeout is called, she cannot come onto the court to help.  It is only the girls on the court who can help their teammates to know what they are doing right and what correction needs to be made.  Their continued support and encouragement makes all the difference to each other in the success of the game. 

One Sunday as I sat in Relief Society, the women’s organization for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I thought of this volleyball circle and a talk by President Boyd K. Packer.  During the Cold War, President Packer visited a Relief Society Meeting behind the Iron Curtain.  When asked if he could take a message to a conference of their Relief Society Sisters, they gave him this message to deliver, "A small circle of sisters send their own hearts and thoughts to all the sisters and begs the Lord to help us go forward."  I realized how our circle of sisters in Relief Society is a lot like this volleyball team's huddle.

In our busy lives, we each go about our various roles and responsibilities all week long doing the best we can, but we inevitably make errors and get caught up in the game of life.  At the end of the week, however, we all come together as “a small circle of sisters” on Sunday.  We encourage each other and cheer each other on.  No matter how rough the week has been, we know that someone will put their arms around us and tell us that we can do it.  We all make mistakes and no one else is going to point them out to us, but we acknowledge them ourselves and pledge to do better.  The Lord, Jesus Christ is our coach, and hopefully we are following the plays He lays out for us, but sometimes it is hard to hear that still, small voice.  I am so grateful for my sisters in the gospel, who huddle up with me each Sunday, and remind me how important the gospel of Jesus Christ is and help me see how to follow its teachings during the next week. We need each other, and I am so much the better for it!

Circle of Sisters, by David Dibble. © David Dibble.