What a remarkable thing service is! It is nice to be on the receiving end of the service, but even greater to be on the giving end. Throughout my life I have had the opportunities to provide service for people around me. It is such an amazing thing to see someone in need and be able to help them out. Everyone will be in need of something sometime in their lives.
I know that it seems like this time of year service and giving is really pushed. I don’t think that people should feel guilty if they can’t give to every organization that is asking for funds. It is great to do if you can, but there are many other ways to provide service to others. I looked up the word service on the web and it is defined as: “work done by one person or group that benefits another” and “an act of help or assistance”. So when ever you are doing something to help, assist or benefit another you are providing service. I want to take it even further and say that service is giving without wanting anything in return, including not wanting acknowledgment.
In my ward primary I was able to teach some youth about service. We made a club, called the Secret Service Club. To be a member of our club you need to provide secret acts of service. I am excited to here of their experiences and feelings they felt while serving.
Service does not have to be something huge or spending a lot of money. It can be as simple as opening a door for someone, or being a friend and lending a listening ear. There are many resources out there to help you find ways to serve. Schools are always looking for volunteers.
Service is a very important thing in our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). We believe that we are all brothers and sisters and are our Father in Heaven’s children. In Mosiah 2:17 it states: “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Book of Mormon)
Here are some wonderful websites that give you some ideas of ways to serve. It even has patterns.
Provident Living: Current Needs
LDSP: Humanitarian Services
Humanitarian Aid Patterns
I would like to invite you to try to do those secret acts of service. Each month I will be posting ideas of ways we can serve. Just think if everyone focused more on giving service and loving the neighbor it would solve alot of the world's problems.
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