On Sunday, I was released from being 2nd Counselor in YW's. I had been ready for a change. I had served for a long time in the program! I did not know where I would be placed and secretly hoped I could have a few months off. I accepted the calling as Compassionate Service Leader for our ward. Although, it is a new calling for me, it is not unfamiliar and seems like it has always been part of the fabric of my soul. While sitting in sacrament meeting the thought came to me about a rubber band. I quickly went to the Relief Society President and asked if I could say a few quick words!
Service has been a part of the Youth theme this year. D&C 4:2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
I quickly ran to the library and got as many rubber bands as I could have and headed off to Relief Society. I greeted each sister who was there with a toothy welcome to Relief Society and handed them a rubber band!
Some took it willingly and smiled back! What a pleasure.
Some were cautious but accepted. (understandable)
Some didn't want to take it all. (it's an ugly rubber band) What if it was a cupcake? I had to keep smiling and convince them to please take it and it would be OK, it was part of my object lesson. (oomph, slight deflation)
This was impromptu and I needed to keep this to a quick TWO MINUTES!! Me?? 2 minutes?? YIKES!! I did it! I asked them each to do a quick stretch! Let their arms and chest open. Feel that stretch! I asked, didn't that feel good?? Then I asked them to stretch their rubber bands! I told them as their Compassionate Service leader I was going to ask them to s-t-r-e-t-c-h and for the most part, it would feel good but there would be times in their lives where there rubber band would be stretched and SNAP and it would HURT! I snapped the rubber band onto my wrist. During these times they would have to re-evaluate the things in their lives that are important and RE-PRIORITIZE so that the service they were asked to render would fall into the top 3 things to get accomplished for the day! I testified that if they did Heavenly Father would bless them that the things they thought they had to get to or had to do would somehow get worked out or covered. Their minds would be at ease what they had to let go, in order to accomplish this service!!! I know this to be true! I know that when you prioritize service for another whom you have stewardship over, the Lord will make a way for you to accomplish it! Like Nephi of Old- 1Nephi 3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: Iwill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shal prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
It is important to OBSERVE then SERVE! I have gained a testimony from this ward that it is crucial to be IN THE HOMES of the families you have stewardship over! Many times people will say they have are fine or they have it covered. Sometimes, they very well may believe this. The Lord for whatever purpose has blessed my life with opportunities, experiences, and trials that have allowed me to understand things far beyond my years. So, If I appear to be a know it all, on somethings GUESS what, I am! The things that I do not know I'm quiet and observe!
And such it is with service! Some will serve willingly the minute they hear of a need, others may be a bit cautious and others, need to know every detail why there is a service required. I used to be this type of person. I was a PRE-QUALIFIER! I wanted to know who needed a meal and why? I wanted to know the entire story before I decided if I thought that person was worthy of my time or service! Pretty crappy of me, huh?? I was more apt to serve if it was something I deemed worthy. Who am I, God?? The fact is someone asked and someone needs! My responsibility is not to pre-qualify but to answer the call with a YES or a NO! I had decided years ago, not to ask any questions or get the back ground story. If someone called for a meal, blessing, ride etc. I didn't want to know the reasons why. I needed to answer YES or NO.
I leave this post King Benjamin did not ask of his people what he wasn't willing to do himself. I want to serve my sisters. I want to serve with them. I want to serve next to them and I want us to serve God, together. I know that our ward can move mountains, if we let Him work through us! (I think this is going to be one of my most fun callings. Perhaps because it is a new frontier to embark on)
Mosiah 2:16-17
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