Service

Bear with me on this post- I just want to express my feelings of gratitude for the teachings of our Savior.


Today in church, we talked about service. Very common topic for a church lesson, but today it was different to me.  I think the simplicity of service makes it so complex.

What is service?

• a contribution to the welfare of others
• a helpful act
• disposal for use

What is Christlike service?

Christlike service grows out of genuine love for the Savior and of love and concern for those whom He gives us opportunities and direction to help. Love is more than a feeling; when we love others, we want to help them.

I've been thinking all day about Christlike service.  Love is more than a feeling! Isn't this a profound statement! The media sure doesn't believe this. Love in their book = lust. I'm committed right here, right now, that I will try my best to teach my children the true meaning of love.

Why is it that you can love your baby from the moment you hold him? Well it started all the way back to when you found out you were pregnant. Christlike service was rendered starting then.  It started when you felt nausea, when you stopped eating certain things, when you had sleepless nights 'cause your belly was so big, when you pretty much sacrificed yourself for them.  You helped them.  You loved them.


Why does your love for your spouse grow? I mean shouldn't you be madly in love when you are engaged? I like to say I may have been "blindly in love" because now that I'm in this marriage almost five years, I KNOW what love is now.  Not that I wasn't madly in love with Darren, but I hadn't had the chance to serve him. Not really... And that my understanding of love will continue to evolve over the years as I willingly do Christlike service for Darren, the man I truly love.  And I love that it is that way, I mean wouldn't that be totally depressing to not have love grow deeper and deeper? Or that your love stayed the same as it did the day you got engaged? Or that it didn't grow as you first brought your baby home from the hospital? Or it didn't grow as you watch your little guy enjoy and explore the world? Or it didn't grow as you went through a trial together and succeeded? The more you serve, the more you love!

I'm so grateful that love isn't a finite thing.  We have the opportunity each day, each moment to make it grow through service- Christlike service.

Now here is a guy that is doing Christlike service each and every day.  Man, I love this kid!

Elder King (he's the one on the right if you can't see the family resemblance)

  
He recently had a baptism that he was so excited about.  He couldn't stop talking about how cool these men are.  He loves them.  A twenty year old boy/man out serving those around him.  He's out learning how to be a man.  Learning how to truly love.  It's awesome!


I recently asked him to write my mom a letter for her 50th birthday and I think he had a very VERY good base to start with- my parents. Here's a little about what he said about love:


*don't mind the English, its getting pretty bad now that he's been speaking Spanish for over 18 months.


 you are always there for me, in the good times and the bad times. i think
 its for that reason that i would always cry when you dropped me off at
 school, because i loved/love you so much that i didnt want to be separated
 from you haha. im sure that i exagerated it a little bit crying every day
 but you really are the best, mom.

 i also love you mom because you help me in everything that i do. whether
 it was in school, sports, church, and just about anything, you would always
 help me do my best. i think that is the reason that i always wanted to get
 straight a´s, because i knew that my mom would be proud of me. i knew that i
 always had at least one fan in the stands at my baseball games, basketball
 games, golf matches, and in everything, and that that fan would always
 support me even if i made a mistake or messed up.




I hope that someday my little mister(s) will write home to their mom and tell me that I showed them how to be loved through Christlike service.  So that they can pay it forward and love others.