This photo has nothing to do with service, and I know it. Ah,well. One could make the metaphor of kindness as seeds, whose influence and reach we cannot measure. But come on -- it's a dandelion!
I had the same kind of lofty disconnect with my August project. My goal was to involve my children in serving our neighbors daily. I wanted to teach them that they have the opportunity and power to lift someone every day of their lives. Grand idea? Yes. Did I accomplish it? No, not really.
I didn't expect that we'd shingle roofs or feed the homeless or comfort orphans (at least not every day!). Sweeping sidewalks, helping bring in groceries, delivering homegrown bouquets -- that was what I considered absolutely doable. I thought my children and I would spend idyllic summer hours walking through the neighborhood, identifying ways we could serve our neighbors. We'd magically be in the right place at the right time, you know? It was a cold day in January, after all, when I outlined the year's projects! Summer seemed so full of promise then.
In reality it was hard to find chances to serve because I was so bogged down. I could barely get out of the house, for all the demands at home. It's hard to stumble upon serving a neighbor when I can't see past the walls around me.
I know I should have tried harder. You see, I believe in service. I know it is how we show our love to Heavenly Father. I know it cultivates a spirit of gratitude. I know it is a sure way to set aside our own frustrations and insecurities. As a newlywed I felt completely alienated by my in-laws' generous attention to their other son's fiancee (when I myself hungered for their approval). My friend could have commiserated with me, but instead she gave me advice I've always remembered. "You love those you serve." So I jumped headfirst into helping my brother-in-law set up his new apartment, and got to know my truly wonderful new sister-in-law. Service helped me.
Maybe in August my family didn't do an amazing act of service daily, but we certainly talked more about service, and that is good. Seeds, right? I also witnessed more acts of kindness within our home.
This is what we DID do:
• The kids helped me make and deliver a meal to their Primary president when she had a baby.
• Another time my young boys balanced plates of food in the car that we took to a man whose wife was in the hospital.
• My 12-year-old daughter, Elise, and I babysat five children, ages 6, 4 and 2-year-old triplets, for five hours (dinner and bedtime routines, too) while their father underwent heart tests at the hospital.
• We took a neighbor child to the fair.
• I told the kids that when they help at home, they allow me to serve other people. My 16-year-old ran the house one day while I did a welfare assignment at the mill.
• We took our neighbors to the Ogden Temple open house.
• My 6-year-old and I visited an elderly neighbor when we delivered a birthday card.
• I wanted to give a self-professed overwhelmed mom a break (or a nap), so we offered to take her 2-year-old to the park. The mom wasn't sure how her daughter would react with us. She felt it would be best if she came too. I thought our service plan was foiled, but no! Elise supervised the 2-year-old while the mom and I sat with her new baby and had a wonderful conversation. I never would have thought to do this if service weren't on our minds.
Still, I realized I needed to do more to fill my well. I had fun with another project I did this month. For years I've wanted to look for the alphabet in the Salt Lake Temple architecture, and create a picture for my in-laws, who were married there. This month marks their 45th anniversary. We did a family home evening at the temple on Aug. 18 to look for the letters. I love how it turned out. It was a rare, but rejuvenating, burst of creativity.
September's project:
Do a better job of preserving the produce from my garden. Last year, much of it spoiled before I could get to it. For shame!
2 comments:
Those are great ways to serve, and to teach your children about serving. I think some of the best examples of serving are to help when you are asked or see a need. Showing that whatever you wanted to be doing with your time is not more important than helping someone else. Even though it may not have turned out exactly how you wanted, it sounds like a great month of service to me!
And that picture is so awesome! What a fun idea.
Oh I'm sorry I didn't see this the day you posted!!! I was checking and then I didn't. Well you did a remarkable amount of lifting others consciously and with the goal set, your actions reflected it. I saw if it's not everyday, it's okay. More than you would have. I loooooovvve the hatch picture of temple letters. How did you print it out? Did you frame it?
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