Have you ever had one of those days when an opportunity to serve presents itself and you feel like it came at the most inconvenient time? š«£ You feel that you have so much going on already that itās hard to add one more thing?….But then you go and give that service anyway?
Thatās what happened to me this week. When the opportunity presented itself, it felt like it came at the most inconvenient time, but Iām so thankful for the lessons that I learned from going and giving the service anyway. Even though we tend to complain about āthe timingā of things we have to remember that our timing is different from Gods timing.
Even though I felt rushed and that it was inconvenient for āmy scheduleā, something amazing happened when I showed up to help. I instantly felt an energy shift within me and I even felt myself apologizing to God for my little ādiva attitudeā about it. Itās amazing how the shift came so quickly and I instantly felt NOT FOCUSED ON MYSELF BUT FOCUSED ONLY ON THE PEOPLE I WAS HELPING š ā¤ļø My heart was changed instantly and I felt Godās love take over for those people. It not only my blessed them, but it changed and blessed me too. ā¤ļøāš©¹
At the end, one of the ladies that I was able to help handed me a yellow rose as a way to thank me. That instantly made me want to cry. š„¹ Seeing that yellow rose reminded me of how each one of us can give a light and be a little āyellow rose for othersā and as we serve, we see that those we serve end up being a light to us as well. We just have to be willing to set aside āour timeā and be willing to serve and be Godās hands as much as we can. When I got home I shared the experience with my babies and Iām now drying that yellow rose and keeping it as reminder to give service whenever possible.
I learned so many lessons from this small experience with service. Suddenly what had felt overwhelming was now feeling lighter. My heart was softened, I felt true Christlike love. ā„ļø The love that doesnāt judge, but that just gives in charity and kindness. Itās the kind of love Christ showed every day of His life. When we choose charity, weāre choosing to see people the way He sees them. When we choose to serve and to be charitable and kind weāre choosing Christ.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once said:
āTrue charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere. Donāt expect to be perfect. Just be honest and sincere.ā
Sometimes we think service has to be big to matterābut it doesnāt. Christ healed, taught, and ministered one by one. A smile, a kind word, a thoughtful text, holding the door open, listening without interruptingāthese are small things that carry eternal weight and provide light to others as well as to ourselves.
When we serve, we forget ourselves. And thatās when real joy begins.
President Thomas S. Monson said:
āWe are the Lordās hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.ā
What an amazing thoughtāwe truly are His hands! He trusts us to help Him love His children.
How This Way of Living Changes Us
When we live with charity in our hearts and serve with love, amazing things happen:
ā¢ We become more confident, because we know who we are in Christ.
ā¢ We become more joyful, because weāre focused on giving, not comparing.
ā¢ We grow stronger in faith, because we feel the Spirit more often in our lives.
Service softens us. Charity expands us. Living this way makes our lives richer…not in things, but in meaning.
Lets Make It our Goal
So, hereās a simple challenge for all of us.
š Each day, find one wayābig or smallāto serve someone.
š Pray for charity, and look for ways to show love that doesnāt judge.
š Fill your mind with light, and trust that God will do the rest.
As we do this, our hearts will change. Our soul will feel lighter. Our burdens will feel more manageableābecause we know we wonāt be carrying them alone.
Remember the Saviorās words:
āInasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.ā āMatthew 25:40
Letās be people who lift. Who love. Who serve. Who try a little harder to be a little kinder. To give a little more light and to be a little yellow rose to someone today.
As we focus on living with charity, we live like Christ. ā¤ļø
The Lord gave me way more from this experience than what I wouldāve gained if I had said no to the opportunity to help. Thatās the true power of service. It lifts others, itās softens hearts and it lifts us to a new level which draws us closer to Christ and fills us with way more joy and peace. And that changes everything. š
Please share your service stories with me too! I would love to hear your experiences and grow from them too! š„¹
Love you all and hope to see you tonight in class to strengthen ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually. š„° Class will be canceled next week. So, hopefully you can make it tonight & do something awesome for yourself! šŖš¼š¤©ā¤ļø
Love,
Lili šø