Many members of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints serve others. Not only in their church callings but outside of the church as well. As I was reading about King Benjamin this week I couldn't help ask myself, why do we serve?
I want to tell a story;
On July 3, 2009 My wife's Mother passed away after a battle with cancer. It was in the evening when my wife and I got home from work when we got the call telling us she had passed and that we should go to the hospital. This was news we knew we were going to get eventually but it still hurt when it finally happened. After consoling my wife her first words were "what should we feed the kids for dinner before we go". Almost before she could get the words out of her mouth there was a knock on the door. Standing on the front porch when we opened it was our Relief Society President with two pizza's, she said "I was just thinking about you guys and thought you could use some help with dinner tonight".
We were grieving, in pain, and didn't have the mental or physical strength to prepare dinner for the kids. However; we couldn't just leave our little ones without something to eat, we were in a bind. Because Sister Caldwell had been close to the Holy Ghost she was able to recognize its promptings and in doing so was able to relieve our burden. When she noticed something was wrong we told her what had happened and she sent my wife and I on our way and took care of our children for us.
No matter how big or small the impact an act of service may have on others doesn't matter. The crazy thing about service is it not only benefits the person being served but it has a bigger impact on the server. There is no time when I experience true joy more than when I am putting others first.
Service should be done quietly, you should not serve with the expectations of announcing it to the world so you can be praised. Service should be done out of love with the best interest of those being served at heart. I know that serving others may not necessarily be the most fun thing to do, and in fact you may not want to do it at all. Whenever I have went to serve someone with this type of attitude I still come away feeling glad I did it and feeling blessed. As we continue to serve eventually it will be done with excitement because you truly love and want the best for others.
I hope as we serve we can all remember what we are taught in Mosiah 2:17; And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
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