When faced with life's challenges,
it is Important to Remember
that although Daniel was saved from the lions,
he was not saved from the Lion's Den.


Monday, August 9, 2010

A Little Place




Working


I asked the Lord, "What shall I do?"
And my love flowed warm and free. 
Then He pointed me out a tiny spot 
And said, "Tend that for me." 
I quickly relied, "Oh no, not that. 
"Why no one would ever see. 
"No matter how well my work was done; 
"Not that little place for me." 
The word He spoke, It was not stern, 
He answered me tenderly; 
"Ah, little one, search that heart of thine. 
"Are you working for them or me? 
"Nazareth was a little place, and so was Galilee."

I sat in Sacrament meeting this past Sunday and listened to the speaker talk about serving and fulfilling callings.  I felt inspired to listen and learn from his teachings.  I think that I have been so guilty of this from time to time.  I want, need, and even like to be noticed.  I like when people remember me, talk to me, or notice if I am not there.  I love to sing and speak in church.  I love to teach and lead.  But, I also love my Heavenly Father too much to refuse a small, insignificant seeming calling.  I believe that He has given me everything, and who am I to try and tell Him how to teach me!  
Case in point.  A few years ago, my husband and I were called to teach the nursery.  I have no idea why I was called!  I have raised all my children past nursery age, I have held, rocked and changed more babies than many others, yet, my bishop called us to the nursery.  So, we accepted and went to church week after week, to this one small plot of ground way in the back from any body else.  
We rarely heard what was going on, since we were both in nursery, the Priesthood and Relief Society announcements were completely missed.  We were part of the Primary, but since we did not see any of the other teachers, we did not feel like we were part of anything.  We met and kept track of the parents of the children we were responsible for.  We served in that calling nearly two years.  
It was hard for me, yet the blessings have been amazing because of it.  My sweet husband has never been outgoing.  He is reserved and quiet.  He doesn't like teaching.  He doesn't like speaking.  For years, every bishop we had despaired of finding the right place for him to serve.  One where he would learn and grow.  In the nursery, the kids did not care how well he spoke, they just cared that he had arms to hold them and a lap to sit on.  He found that he could teach a five minute lesson.  (That was as long as I could get them to sit still).  He found that the children loved him, and did not judge him because of what he might have been.  After two years we were released.  I was immediately called into the Primary to teach the three year olds (those same sweet nursery children) and my husband now teaches the High Priests.  
Yes, that is right.  My sweet never talk or teach husband is now teaching (and might I say even enjoying) a class.  Heavenly Father knew just where he needed to be in order to prepare him for other things.  Some of my most earnest prayers have been answered with that one, small, seemingly insignificant nursery leader calling.  

So, the next time you are asked to do a job that you don't want to do, ask yourself these simple questions:
Who are you serving?
Why are you serving?

Hopefully you will find your answers.   

Matt 20:27-28
     And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
     Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, 

     but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

7 comments:

  1. Beautifully true my friend. Thanks for the reality check.

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  2. Oh my gosh.... that story of your husband put me to streaming tears. I am sitting in my office, hoping no customers come in until my tears are dry. What a beautiful story. Thank goodness Heavenly Father is in charge... because we would never know to place ourselves in the places where we need to be most. So many wonderful blessings come disguised as something very different.

    Thanks so much for sharing. And thank you for visiting me at my blog today! Not just for the fun of having a comment... but because it led me here! Corine :D

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  3. Thank you to both of you for commenting on this one. It is one of my more personal posts. The answers to prayer often come in ways that we never imagined! It makes me wonder how many things I might have missed because I did not heed the call of the spirit!

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  4. Beautiful....what an amazing testimony. Thank you for sharing it and sustaining my own.

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  5. I feel that way about the service I give at home sometimes- the meals I make, the diapers I change, the noses I wipe, etc. Thanks for the tender reminder that all of our services are noticed.

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  6. Thank you to all of you for reading and commenting. This was a very special time in my life and taught me a lot about service and growth. I am glad that it inspired all of you!

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  7. Loved this! Thank you! I think I'm married to your husband's brother...as my Mr W is so similar. He'd rather have his eyes poked out than speak in church!
    But he's had some callings (like working in the temple) that have truly helped him find his voice in the church.
    You and I are similar too...I love sharing whatever I have with whomever will listen!

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