I just got back from home teaching, and I'm thinking about the attitude I take with me when I do it, and wondering if and how I should change.

Last month, I received a new home teaching companion and three new families to visit. Both my companion and I knew one of the families (call them Family A), and we visited them quickly. The other two (Families B and C) neither of us had heard of. We didn't make much of an effort last month. That was wrong.

This month, we again called and got an appointment with Family A. My companion called the other families--B didn't answer, and C's phone number turned out to be the phone number for a business. (I guess we'll need to check with the ward clerk on this family's contact information.) But it turns out that Family B lives very close to Family A. So after we finished our visit this afternoon with Family A, we walked over to Family B's apartment.

Now, because we don't know Families B and C, we kind of assumed they were less active. Heck--Family C doesn't even have a correct phone number on the ward records. When we got to the lobby of Family B's apartment building, I was actually a little surprised to see the correct last name next to the doorbell button for their apartment. As I reached for the button, my companion joked, "You got your best door approach ready?" We both expected this to be a missionary-like visit, trying to convince someone who doesn't want to see us that they should let us in.

I rang, and the father of the family answered. "Hi," I said. "We're your home teachers from the Cambridge First Ward, Matt Astle and J___ S___. We were wondering if we could pay you a visit." Because they lived on the first floor and the intercom wasn't working well, our home teachee came out to talk to us face to face. As soon as I took a look at him, I recognized him from church. He and his wife and two daughters moved into the ward somewhat recently, but they are there every week. I had just never learned their names. He explained that they were just getting dinner on the table for the missionaries, so now wasn't a good time. We made an appointment to come back later.

As we walked away, I found myself commenting to my companion (who also recognized him) that I was happy to learn that they aren't inactive. Family C still might be, but at least we don't have to try to convince Family B to come to church--they already do.

Now I'm wondering if that is a righteous or healthy attitude. Should I be more happy to be asked to home teach an active family than an inactive family? Should I be relieved that it will probably mean less work? As I think about it, it seems to me that the home teaching program is more well-suited for less active families than for active families. It's the inactive families who need the love and support of home teachers. And I should be happy for the opportunity to bring someone back into activity. Or at least to let them know that they haven't been forgotten by the church. Shouldn't I have been disappointed to know that there was less for us to give this family? That they didn't need me as much as someone else might? I'm kind of upset at myself for my thoughts.

I guess I still might have my chance to be excited about an inactive family with Family C.