A Lesson in Service

About a month ago, one of the super women in my ward gave a lesson in Relief Society. I know all of you who might read this post will know her, so I won't mention names. But to know her is to know how amazing she really truly is. This woman has inspired me, guided me, lifted me when I was low. In my mind, she can do all things. She amazes me. The lesson, that she so heartfelty prepared, was on service. I have to say, that it was a lesson I perhaps needed to hear. And I did. I started thinking to myself about those around me who in some small way help me, and I began to think of the saying "by their fruits, ye shall know them". I started to wonder about the fruits I have to offer. If I am to say "I am a mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ" what am I doing to show my worth, my value, my commitment to said statement. I also started thinking of a woman who has recently befriended me. I have to say, in all honesty at first I never thought I would call her "friend", but since coming to know her and her sweet spirit, I don't think there could be a better word. This woman is plagued with a serious illness, we know it as MS. In her own small ways, she is a support for me, and all of the people who are a part of her life. I was watching her as she was selflessly helping others with all she had to offer, and I knew that the fruit of this woman was good. I had to ask myself if someone were to look at me, would they think the same? I know in my heart that the answer would have been no. I also learned through speculation that service doesn't have to crippling to the server, the sacrifice doesn't always have to hurt. I relised that I can be helping in every day ways.

Since starting my small acts of kindness and service, we also were taught about sacrifice, and how to make it REALLY count, it has to hurt. We have to sacrifice, to give, until it physically hurts, until we can give no more. I always joke that the place we are living in now is like a waiting room. There are all these families coming together, waiting for something better, and then moving on. Our neighbours, who we had come to know, had started their move onto something much better. Their little girl, who is 5, happens to be friends with David. For almost a whole week, I took Courtney from 8 in the morning until often after dinner. It was like suddenly having a third child, and the sacrifice of my time, energy and efforts was not only wearing but in the end painful. I handed her back early on the last day because I had nothing left to give to this energetic and demanding child. Out of the service and the sacrifice though came a great blessing. As the family was packing up their things, Courtney decided she wanted on our park outing, not in our buggy or by walking, but in her stroller. In the efforts her parents made to set up the stroller, ther realised they had no need for it, or want, and generously gave it to us for free. The words I can use to describe my feelings were greatful, blessed, extatic and flabbergasted. We now have the bike trailer we were so desperatly wanting, a mode of transportation, an environmentally friendly set of wheels, an excercise machine and a source of entertainment for the whole family. It may have been a physical example of our rewards for service and sacrifice, but in simple terms, I get it.