Service Heals
Recently I have been thinking about a profound truth. Service heals us.
Sometimes in life, I think we tend to become so engrossed in our own problems, that we forget to stop and look around at the people around us and THEIR problems.
Why do we do this?
Well, it could be a number of things. One of the reasons we do it is because we feel like we aren't in a place to help other people if we, ourselves, are struggling.
I was talking to my roommate the other day and she presented this argument. She wondered why people feel like they can't serve while they, themselves, are struggling. And then she said, if anything, the service they render to a friend who is in need will be more beneficial to them than if they did nothing. Service is the Balm of Gilead we need. Service is the key to a happy life.
It may be hard to help someone when you are feeling bad yourself. There is that idea that they teach when you are flying on an airplane and the instructor reminds you that in case of an emergency where you need oxygen, make sure to put your mask on before you help someone else.
I remember when I came home from my mission, I was struggling and so was my mom. We both were in a difficult place in our lives. I just remember feeling like I never was able to help her. But a few months later, I talked to her about it. She said she felt like I was one of the biggest strengths to her at that time. I also told her I loved our discussions and being able to still feel like a missionary when I was home because I was able to share the things I learned about the gospel with her. And she listened.
You don't know how much good you do. Sometimes, trying is all that really counts to someone else.
A week before fall semester started, I just felt so selfish. I had decided long a few semesters before that to volunteer to mentor students through a program through the school for this fall semester. We had a meeting for that program recently and during the meeting, they had an activity where they brought us outside blindfolded and left us alone individually in different places. I felt lonely and couldn't hear anyone around me. I was also still blindfolded and I didn't know what to do so I just stood there and waited. Then I started to hear a faint sound of spiritual hymns playing.
What seemed like hours later, someone finally grabbed my hand and led me to the music. They stopped me and put someone's hands on my shoulders and we all walked towards the music together.
After that, I learned that the activity was supposed to help us understand that there are many of us out there who are lost and need help. Sometimes it is us and sometimes it is our friends, or our family. We are all at different points in our lives, and even if we struggle sometimes, there is always someone who has it worse.
My invitation to you is to find the one that needs your help. There is a world of people around you that need your help. GO out and FIND them. You will receive more in return when you do.
And now my favorite quote about service from the one and only, Gordon B. Hinckley,
"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served."
Sometimes in life, I think we tend to become so engrossed in our own problems, that we forget to stop and look around at the people around us and THEIR problems.
Why do we do this?
Well, it could be a number of things. One of the reasons we do it is because we feel like we aren't in a place to help other people if we, ourselves, are struggling.
I was talking to my roommate the other day and she presented this argument. She wondered why people feel like they can't serve while they, themselves, are struggling. And then she said, if anything, the service they render to a friend who is in need will be more beneficial to them than if they did nothing. Service is the Balm of Gilead we need. Service is the key to a happy life.
It may be hard to help someone when you are feeling bad yourself. There is that idea that they teach when you are flying on an airplane and the instructor reminds you that in case of an emergency where you need oxygen, make sure to put your mask on before you help someone else.
I remember when I came home from my mission, I was struggling and so was my mom. We both were in a difficult place in our lives. I just remember feeling like I never was able to help her. But a few months later, I talked to her about it. She said she felt like I was one of the biggest strengths to her at that time. I also told her I loved our discussions and being able to still feel like a missionary when I was home because I was able to share the things I learned about the gospel with her. And she listened.
You don't know how much good you do. Sometimes, trying is all that really counts to someone else.
A week before fall semester started, I just felt so selfish. I had decided long a few semesters before that to volunteer to mentor students through a program through the school for this fall semester. We had a meeting for that program recently and during the meeting, they had an activity where they brought us outside blindfolded and left us alone individually in different places. I felt lonely and couldn't hear anyone around me. I was also still blindfolded and I didn't know what to do so I just stood there and waited. Then I started to hear a faint sound of spiritual hymns playing. What seemed like hours later, someone finally grabbed my hand and led me to the music. They stopped me and put someone's hands on my shoulders and we all walked towards the music together.
After that, I learned that the activity was supposed to help us understand that there are many of us out there who are lost and need help. Sometimes it is us and sometimes it is our friends, or our family. We are all at different points in our lives, and even if we struggle sometimes, there is always someone who has it worse.
My invitation to you is to find the one that needs your help. There is a world of people around you that need your help. GO out and FIND them. You will receive more in return when you do.
And now my favorite quote about service from the one and only, Gordon B. Hinckley,
"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served."
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