I have found so many times in my life that when I am feeling ungrateful, stressed, annoyed with a situation or just down, that service has always changed my mood. I wish to share three stories with you.
The first story took place the summer I was 19. I had moved to Boise, Idaho to sell living scriptures. I hated every moment it from the start. I made descent money that summer and discovered I was good at sells, but hated every moment of it. One of my first weeks there, I met an elderly couple, that have forever changed my life. The summer I was there they took me under their wings. They hooked my roommates and I up with some dishes and a table. They filled my gas tank twice without asking me (they didn't know, just how poor I was) we got payed at the end of the summer and again right before spring semester. They dropped grocery's off at our apartment. When I was struggling with being up there he gave me a blessing. When my heart was broken from my summer fling she let me cry on her shoulder. Nancy was my escort when I went through the temple for the first time and the day I was sealed to my best friend. Click here for more information on LDS Temples. About 10 months after Bryce and I were married John passed away. I was honored to know him and honored to attend the services. I learned so much from Nancy and John, they were truly a blessing in my life. They did so many things for me it was more then the things they did for me, it was the friendship they blessed me with. They were like the Grandparents I never really had. I talked to Nancy the other night and she still insist that I was the blessing to them that summer.
The next story takes place my junior year of high school. I was super busy, I worked, cheered, had an internship, classes and clubs. I never had time for anything. One day after school, I was riding the Trax to get to the game to cheer. (my car was having problems). I was already running late and stressed. As I took my seat I looked out to see and elderly man taking two steps and then falling and getting back up. He was frail and shaking. No one stopped, no one, I was at the stop downtown by the library, no one stopped. People were everywhere I looked at my watch knowing I would be late and miss the bus I needed to catch after and be late. I gladly got off that train went to the man and asked where he was headed, it was to the retirement home down the street. I linked arms with him and we began the walking to the center. We walked slow as we approached the intersection a man came up and said he had seen the whole thing and wanted to help. So he grabbed the mans other elbow and we helped him home. I did have pepper spray with me and I knew the area like the back of my hand, after all I grew up down there. It worked out that my sister got off work early and took me to the game. A few weeks later, I saw the the same elderly man sitting a few rows a head of me at church, by himself. My sister had not come that Sunday so I as sitting by myself. I left my seat to ask how he was doing and sat down. When the opening hymn started he looked a way, I nudged him and said sing with me, he said he couldn't and I said neither could I. We laughed and sang the remaining two songs also. As we stood to go our separate ways, he said, in his shaky voice, I knew, I knew you from somewhere, you are the girl that helped me home. Me "yes, I was... it was an honor sir" He responded "I haven't sung in years, thank you". My eyes filled with tears as I saw a true smile of gratitude on his face. A few weeks later my Bishop pulled me in his office to tell me the man had passed away, I looked puzzled and he said your acts of services did not go unnoticed. He told me and pointed you out saying "you were an angel sent to help him". This experience has always stuck with me and I am grateful for the service he provided me with. In fact I learned from him that following the promptings of the spirit will never fail.That you can not wait for someone else to act, you must be the first.
The last story happened the summer before I left home, I was riding my bike to work and instead of going the usual way, I decided to change it up and go a different way, I was about 2 mins into my ride when I heard someone yell for help, I looked to where the voice came from. They was a lady laying down on the side walk on her side. I hopped off the bike and went to her side, I asked of she needed help up. as I tired to help her she started screaming in pain that her left shoulder hurt bad, not knowing what to do I called 911 and held her hand. they took her the hospital. I went about the rest of my day. On my way home from work I stopped at the library to check out a book and return one. As I was leaving I saw her walking towards me, she had broken her her shoulder. I talked with her for a minute and told her I was heading home. We started walking the same way. I had my bike with me to still push. She had a few bags of stuff, I offered to carry them and off we went. She actually ended up living in the retirement home across from my house. (random right?) Seeing that it was a care facility I helped her to her room and gave her my number. I told her if she needed anything to call. I stopped by the next day to check on her. I offered to call her family, she said none of them would care. It was so sad to hear that. I stopped by everyday that week, to help with cleaning and shopping and whatever else she needed. The next week, she called me panicked saying she had fallen and needed help. I raced over there to help her. When I arrived, she was burning something on the stove, she had had an accident (no further details necessary). I helped her up, turned off the stove, opened windows, got her comfortable, put on gloves cleaned up the accident. I made her dinner, chatted with her and tucked her into bed with an ice pack for her shoulder. She was so embarrassed and kept apologizing, I reassured her it was fine. When I left that night I told the front desk people to keep and eye on her. After that I went every few days until I moved from home. When I came home to visit, I always went and checked on her. about 7 months after there wasn't it said her phone was turned off and I couldn't get a hold of her, I tried to inquire but got nothing. I am not sure what happened her, but i am and will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to serve her.
Each of these stories taught me so many things and I feel blessed to have received service from each of these people. They were all and are amazing people, I feel honored to of gotten to know them each a little better. We are surrounded by opportunities to serve take an advantage of it, because one day you will be recipient of it and do so because you want too,
"The needs of others are ever present,
and each of us can do
something to help someone".
-President Monson-
I'm enjoying reading your posts! They're fun!
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