Today I taught the relief society lesson. The topic was Opportunities to do Good by President Eyring. It was a wonderful talk that Pres. Eyring gave.
I have been thinking a lot about this the last few days, and after my lesson and the great insight from others, I want to do better at serving others. Elder Eyring promised that if things don't seem like they are going well today, that if you serve someone in need that tomorrow they will seem easier. What an awesome promise!
I think there are levels to service. First level, the easy ways to serve. When it is right in front of your face it is easy to help. Examples, when someone drops groceries, or has a flat tire, someone who stumbles, a lost child in the store etc. Not many of us would just ignore these people in need. NOT SAYING that these are not great ways to be Christlike but lets look at the next level!
Those who actively search for opportunities to help. They pray for guidance to find those in need. They turn their feelings of sympathy into a decision to act! I am so touched by these people, I want to be like them!
My Grandma Payne was an excellent example of this. My dad told me this story when we were discussing this lesson.
After she passed away a few people came up and told him of times when her service blessed their lives.
My grandma notice a woman in her ward was struggling. Just stressed and overwhelmed with things of life. My grandma didn't call her, or tell her she was coming. Grandma showed up at this ladies door and said:
"Hi! I am here to get all your laundry and your ironing."
OF course as many of us would, the lady replied :
"Oh no, no, you don't need to do that"
But my sweet grandma insisted and said back "oh yes, I want to, come on lets go gather it I will help you" So she helped this sister to gather her laundry and my grandma washed and folded and ironed this ladies clothes and quickly returned them.
Grandma didn't do it for recognition, she didn't tell anyone what she did. She did it because she wanted to help someone and wanted to serve the Lord. This woman never forgot the service, and it blessed her tremendously to know that someone cared enough to come and help her.
I know we have all been the ones in need at one time or another and have been blessed by others service. My dad brought up a good example of when our family was served. Back when my Dad was bishop we came back from d0ing something as a family and as we pulled up to our house, there was a family in our ward weeding our yard! My mom said that she felt embarrassed at first because she had 5 children who were perfectly able to weed, and oh no! Did our yard look that bad? But as we got out of the car my dad talked to the parents of this family and something to the effect of, wow, what a surprise this is! You guys didn't need to weed our yard! The mom replied, "we know your time is precious Bishop"
What a blessing to my dad. HE said he has never forgot that either. I am amazed by these types of people who have such loving and willing hearts. People who look for opportunities to serve, who do it out of love, who do it because that is just the way they are.
I want to try and work on this attribute. These people are such examples to me. Can you imagine a world if everybody decided to seek out one person to help each day? So there you have it, a resolve to do better! Hope this feeling is contagious and that we can all strive to be better servants of the Lord. Step in and help him bless others lives through us. In turn I know our lives will be blessed.
