"I am only one, But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." --Helen Keller
{Jenn showing Ethan a bunny}
"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the creative light of altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment.
Life's persistent and most urgent question is
'What are you doing for others?"
--Martin Luther King Jr.
{Michelle helping Eva with her first play-doh}
"Every unselfish act of kindness and
service increases your spirituality."
--Robert J. Whetten
{Jana wiping baby Mason's nose}
"No service in the Church or in the community
transcends that given in the home."
--Boyd K. Packer
{Jenn showing Ethan a bunny}"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the creative light of altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment.
Life's persistent and most urgent question is
'What are you doing for others?"
--Martin Luther King Jr.
{Michelle helping Eva with her first play-doh}"Every unselfish act of kindness and
service increases your spirituality."
--Robert J. Whetten
{Jana wiping baby Mason's nose}"No service in the Church or in the community
transcends that given in the home."
--Boyd K. Packer
Rather than seeing service as yet another thing to add to our long to-do list, it needs to be a part of who we are, so much so that it becomes an automatic response rather than just one of our many good intentions.
{The sleepover with James & Jessica}
I especially love the Helen Keller quote about not refusing to do something we can do. This goes along with my post earlier in the week about The Things We Do. I am pretty good about opening my home to other people's kids because I understand the need to have a break from them and also the problem of having no where else to turn. This isn't hard for me, so I do it without much thought or complaint. But there are plenty of other things that are hard for me and don't even pop up on my radar.
{The sleepover with James & Jessica}**What kinds of service are you good at?
Is service part of you or are you still working on it?
Any other thoughts??**
Is service part of you or are you still working on it?
Any other thoughts??**
23 comments:
Dropping off meals, treats, a book, or something tangible to help. I definitely need to improve in giving my TIME to others...thanks for the Sunday thoughts! Always inspiring!
I can bring a meal on almost no notice, and don't mind babysitting other people's kids so that they can do what they need to do. So that is good, but my problem is that they are my only ideas to help people. If they don't need a meal, and don't have kids to watch, then I often feel helpless when I try to help because I just can't think of what to do. So that is my weakness.
Acts of service is my love language. It is an important part of my life. Even though i'm not perfect at it, whenever I am down or feeling low I know I need to do more service. It's the little things & they add up to a great high once you get started.
Last month I did what I thought was a great huge act of service. It was tons of work & time. The person (family member)I did it for never thanked me & was even critical. I was crushed- seriously. After crying I started to think of all the service others have given me, & all the blessings my Heavenly Father has lovely blessed me with. Has there ever been a time I didn't say thank you? I realized that the act of service was enough for me. It is better to be thanked but that's not why I did it deep down. It was my way of loving her.
Jill- I know you are a great thank you giver. I love that you are good at keeping other's kids. I love kids, maybe I should work on that one. Thanks for the sunday thought & letting me vent. patsy
Great quotes!! I think it is so great that you are so willing to take in peoples kids overnight (or all day..or whatever the mom needs!). I know that Amie appreciates more than she could ever tell you. It is so true that there are so many ways for us to give service and that we each have a talent for one over another. I am still tyring to find mine :)....always a work in progress!
I want service to be just part of who I am, but I am still working on that. I love love love the Helen Keller quote. I think you are so good to take other people's kids because that is a hard one for me. It is easy for me to make food for people, it is one way that I show love. But like Rachel said, I sometimes have trouble moving beyond that. I want to get better at seeing the real need and addressing it.
making meals and watching peoples kids is really hard for me, i don't feel i am good at either.
i do feel like i am good at seeing a need, seeing things that others may not see, i get many ideas in my head to help, but get frustrated that i can't do it all and then get disapointed feeling like i am not doing anything to help, because i didn't do everything i thought of.
we had an awesome conversation with our bishop last week that i have so wished i had to time to write it all down, it has given me a new perspective of service.
i love you sunday posts and how the photos are random from diferent events all giving more meaning to the quote.
i think the service i'm best at is listening- it's nearly impossible for me to make a meal (and i'm not that good at it) or to watch other people's kids...unless they occupy my own!
i really liked this post- it reminded me a movie we watched last night (bobby- yes, it was r-rated and i'm not proud of that, but rfk was pretty amazing and your quotes resonated with it). i'm always reminded with service that our prayers are usually answered through someone else- i always wonder if there's some way i can help answer one of those prayers...and yet i end up feeling completely inadequate and disappointed in myself when it feels as though i can't.
as always, thank you for your sunday thoughts- my mind was wandering a little in sacrament meeting today and i thought "wonder what jill's thoughts are today!"
*What kinds of service are you good at? making someone laugh-can that be a service?!?!
im actually good at putting myself to work, taking note at WHAT needs or could be helpful and just doing it..like cleaning someone's house or picking the front yard type thing..
Is service part of you or are you still working on it? i think we are all service minded-its just figuring out how to apply it..
Any other thoughts?? as a woman who is ALWAYS serving (her hubby/children)..i appreciate those that come to serve me-especially when it involves chocolate!
I like the Helen Keller quote too. Too true that we can't do everything but we can do something. I have never really minded watching kids or making meals, although neither come to me naturally. I usually sign up to bring food or babysit if it's a need, because I can.
The easiest things for me to do though are to help with music, whether for a funeral or baptism or wherever it's needed. I always think of the covenant I've made to build up the kingdom with my time and talents, so if having an accompanist or musical number or chorister or whatever helps and relieves, I happily serve.
But there are so many other things I can work on, other things I actually CAN do that take some effort on my part that need some attention.
Great post Jill!
I guess I am good at making meals, phone calls, sending cards, and listening. I probably ought to do more.
I love all the quotes and pictures with this post- it is such a great post for today.
I can echo Kristi a little, I feel like I am pretty good at seeing a need and have good ideas and intentions that I act on whenever I can, but I often feel guilty that I couldn't do everything I wanted to. Or that I didn't think ahead to try to delegate some things to others and instead thought I had to do them all. Does that make sense?
From reading all the comments, I think it is cool to see what everyone sees as their strong points- like there is someone out there that can do what I don't feel I am good at so it helps to keep all the bases covered.
I love that first quote. Beauty.
I really like the photos you chose to post with these thoughts.
With service, I find that it has to come from the heart. I know that might sound like kind of a cliche, but it's true -- it's something you do because you really feel it. The thing I need to improve on is to stop looking at the areas other people are great at serving in and being envious. I need to be glad for the areas I'm good at.
Fantastic post...great great great...I think I am good at translating at the branch for 3 to 4 years that I was there...that was good...and it felt good. I think when it comes to service people should rely on their strenghts and God given talents, because that is their nature for them...and they should feel good...because as Kristi said about making meals, that doesn't come natural to her as it does to Michelle...so I don't think we should think bad that we don't do more, but if we do enough in the areas that are strenghts to us...that is a great service in behalf of our Lord. I often think of an example my dad used to say...When we lived in Washington DC back a long time ago...my parents went to the chevy chase ward with Elder Scott, The Marriots...and very important and successful people...senators, and what not...and he recalls a moment (my dad was in his sabatical doing his phD in NIHC and was very young...early 30ties) and someone came to say...in his High Priest Group that someone needed a wheel chair, and that they needed to know who was going to bring it then and there...and my Dad was new to the ward and in the US for that matter, but always rememebered that Bro. Marriot raised his hand, wrote it on his agenda and said I will get it...my Father couldn't fathom the idea, that this man, being soooo busy and soooo important in his business and that within a blink of an eye...said, sure I will do it...personally. That to him, was one of the most immediate teachings of service that stuck with him and me...I think more than service itself, is the willigness to do it, immediately, because we are eager to help...and sometimes we take the easy road and don't bother...and at the same time miss the satisfaction of receiving blessings and good possible friendships from what it could come...what a nice post and reflections from everyone...I am not as quick sometimes to offer...great job missy
I have noticed that you take in extra children pretty regularly. That is a terrific act of service.
I really like the Helen Keller quote. I think I'm pretty good at not refusing to do the things I can do.
I've been thinking about this so much lately. I want to "walk the walk" and not just tell my kids its good to serve, but have them know that because they see it often.
What kind am I good at?taking meals in, watching kids.. teaching lessons, giving talks..being a listening ear..
Is it a part of me? I think it is a part of all of us.. I think we all do it differently and that is a good thing..
Other thoughts.. I am grateful for those who have served me and not even realized it.. today a testimony I heard.. really just exactly what I was feeling.. I knew it was a bit hard for the gal who shared.. but it was really a service to me.. it helped me so much to feel our Savior's love.
I love your sunday thoughts..
I feel like I am good at recognizing a need but feel like my follow through is not always there. I can talk myself out of it thinking I need to take care of myself right now. Not a good thing.
I am good at worrying for other people. Nice, huh? If I translated half of my worry into action, I'd be making a difference more often than I do.
Loved the quotes!
I think I'm pretty good about giving my time. I'll make a dinner for a family at a moment's notice. I'll go above and beyond to make sure things are taken care of in my calling. Something that I wish I was better at is watching people's children. I too understand the need to get a way. I just have a hard time making the offer. I also wish I was better at following my instinct to serve. I tend to shy away from it if I'm not asked to do it.
Nearly midnight here, so can I sleep on this service question??
I just like the way you can link the sentiments in the quotes with real people like Michelle and Jana.
It never occured to me that in our Sunday services, we look at our huge PowerPoint screen during the sermon and we see sentiments like that illustrated with very 'dead' images taken from image banks. Really, we should be looking at the people we know DOING these things, just like your post shows.
I will mention this to the Dream Team on Thurs...(our next meeting)...*scribbles in notebook*
i love your pics to illustrate the "service" we do daily, hourly, by the minute for our children. not service in the traditional sense but oh so important for our children.
i do love your sunday thoughts...
I enjoy keeping other people's kids too - it's easy to me because it gives my kids something to do.
I have always tried to get Luci and Griffin involved in service too. (They volunteer at the local foodbank, etc.)I am working on (for them and me) making it a part of who we are, not just something we do once a week or once a month, etc. So to me it will always be something that I am working on.
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