Heartache

Sometimes, I get so caught up in the chaos that is my life, that I do not look for ways to serve others.  I forget, for a time, that serving others is really also something that makes me feel better about myself.  This week, there were a couple of friends who needed me, and I stopped what I was doing and went and served. 
I have found that service is rarely convenient.  It almost never comes at the right time in my life.  It is usually something I have to drop everything else for and just go and do.  It can be so much easier to just lay in bed and wallow in my exhaustion. 
Funny thing though, when I finally get up the courage to just do it, I find myself with more energy and more love and more compassion than I started out with.  I find myself wanting to help even more. 
One of the things we are doing in Primary this year is teaching the children to "dare to choose the right".  They are each challenged every week to dare another child to do something that is right and kind and good.  Then the next week they get to tell who they dared, what they asked them to do, and whether or not they did it.   They also get to put a gumball in a jar to show all the "good dares" that they have done. 
They seem to get really involved in it and some of the dares are simple, but some have actually been pretty complicated.  So, this week, going with that theme, I am going to dare you to serve someone else.  Help to ease their heartache.  Help them to bear their sorrows.  You can choose what you do.  It can be as simple as a phone call, or a visit.  You can make a dinner or a dessert, or even a loaf of bread.  
Whatever you decide to do, put a little bit of yourself into it.  I promise that as we seek to serve others, our own doubts and fears and even pain becomes a little bit easier to bear.  
Give it a try!  I dare you!   

What I learned - Our Good Shepherd

Our Good Shepherd

by Dale G. Renlund

Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, finds joy in seeing His diseased sheep progress toward healing.

"We get a glimpse into our Heavenly Father’s character as we recognize the immense compassion He has for sinners and appreciate the distinction He makes between sin and those who sin. This glimpse helps us have a more “correct [understanding of] his character, perfections, and attributes” and is foundational to exercising faith in Him and in His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Savior’s compassion in the face of our imperfections draws us toward Him and motivates us in our repeated struggles to repent and emulate Him. As we become more like Him, we learn to treat others as He does, regardless of any outward characteristic or behavior".

I loved this talk, especially since he used one of my favorite books and plays as an analogy.  He quoted from Les Miserables.  I especially liked how he compared sin to a disease, and how the Savior does not withdraw from disease even when it is terrible to look upon.  I loved how he reminds us that the Savior is a healer.  He truly has compassion for each one of us.  And in ways we don't understand, He know what we are going through and what we need. 
As children of God, we also need to learn to model His behavior in our own lives.  We need to reach out to those who are suffering and learn to love them in spite of what they have done.  We need to seek others out so that no one feels alone, or lonely or lost. 
I have a friend who is going through a very difficult time right now.  She does not feel as if anyone understands and she does not want to be a burden on others.  I too, have felt just that way, but there is joy in giving and joy in receiving.  Allow others to be blessed by helping you through the hard times.  Be there for them in their own difficulties.  As we seek to love one another and help one another we can become more like Him. 

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Girl

 

 

A single photo 

– no words –
 

capturing a moment from our lives.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment

I want to pause, savor and remember.

A moment

that brings a smile to my lips, 

and joy to my heart.