Setting the Example

At some point every day , there is an act of service being done somewhere in the world and thank goodness for that! Some people like to be “served” while others enjoy being the “server”. While both are needed in our crazy busy world, I prefer, for many reasons, to be the server.

Recently, I have had to face some unexpected health issues and the word “blindsided” does not even begin to describe the feelings this new information has introduced into mine and my families lives! As I flip-flop between feelings of self-pity and depression versus worthlessness and little to no hope, I try to grab onto that very thin string of love that my Heavenly Father has for me. Of this I have no doubt…so in order to pull myself out of the abyss of sadness that I feel on an almost daily basis, I do the only thing that I know will benefit myself and others. That is to lose my thoughts and myself in the act of service! By doing for someone else, I am also doing for myself, so serving is really a two-fold mission for me and my family . There is no better medicine or therapy!

At this point in our lives we still have two of our four children at home. My son is 15 and my daughter is 13…aahhh-teenagers!! Getting them to give freely of their precious time can be a challenge to say the least. Besides doing service projects for Young Womens and Young Mens, Relief Society, Boy Scouts, the local Y.M.C.A. and a Boy Scout camp close our home, well our kids tend to feel very “put upon” to say the least!!! Whenever the words service project come up it is usually followed by some very loud groaning and complaining. So how do we make it “FUN”? well I don’t think fun ever springs to mind but I do know that when my children are able to see a calming difference come over their mother when she is in the midst of serving or talking about the joys of helping others they are affected by that. They are able to see how both sides benefit from the blessings of serving. There is no better way than to be an example!

Anonymous