This is our new scripture mastery for the month of November, so we are memorizing this as a primary and as a family. I got all choked up in primary today as I introduced it because we had such an amazing service project earlier this week, and many of the children had been there to help.
A 55 year old man from our ward died suddenly of a heart attack 10 days ago, so as a show of support and love to his family, about 130 of us gathered at their house last Tuesday to work in their huge yard.
Someone had rented a cherry picker so the men could trim the huge branches that were too close to their roof.
We pulled weeds and planted pansies in their flower beds, and even the youngest of kids helped. Seriously, how cute is it that he has his binky and a shovel?
We cleared tons of fallen branches and filled an entire dumpster with green debris, and made an enormous pile of dry wood, plus filled their entire wood pile for winter and rototilled their garden.
It was particularly emotional for me to see the kids from this mourning family there working with all of us when they had just suffered the huge loss of their father. Their mother came out for a bit to talk and be comforted.
Their backyard was bursting with helping hands. Some of the kids played of course, but many of them took turns pulling weeds, planting flowers and carrying dead wood.
It was quite touching to see this scout troop from our ward with their leaders (and Whitney and Madison) planting pansies around this tree; their leaders did such a good job of showing them what to do and then letting them do it.
I absolutely love how service is such a big part of being a member of our church and I love it that kids learn that from the earliest ages. This little guy is no stranger to hard work since he comes from a very hardworking family; he has his own tiny pair of work gloves and they even have a hole in them from getting so much use (I'm sure he wasn't the first child in their family to wear them).
It was so moving to be a part of this service project and I was very thankful that I took kids there to help. We only had an hour to be there before we had to leave to get ready for Landon's Band Bash, so it would have been easy to skip it. But I have never regretted my participation in any service project and more than anything I wanted the kids to be a part of it and to see so much service in action (though I had no idea so many people would turn out for it). So it's no wonder that I was too moved to speak as I recited our new scripture mastery verse to the primary today and looked around at the many sweet faces of kids who had been a part of it.
**Thoughts??**
Comment Window Tidbit: We had some fantastic homemade rolls from a lady from church today, I really must learn how to make those.
13 comments:
That is amazing. 130 people?! I've never been a part of a service project that large. I love how the age range of those helping was so great. What a blessing for everyone involved.
What a relief that service must have been to that widow and her family. That's incredible. I loved the picture of the baby with the pacifier and spade, too. What a day.
55? sooooo young! Gosh, we really don't know what the next day will bring....so sweet to be part of that, and to have your children be part...there is nothing like being an example.
This is what makes America great. I love our service-oriented faith, too.
xo on Sunday
What a sweet post...service is such a blessing for everyone.
This post made feel a bit choked-up. I love the gospel!
I love what you said about never regretting taking advantage of a service opportunity. Such a good thing to remember. This is so sweet and that family will never ever forget it.
By the way, your comment on my last post about putting the birth announcements in my big bag of clutter cracked me up! I was nervous after I posted that bit about the thank you notes that I would disappoint you, the Good Mail Queen. Thank you for being so understanding!
I have goosebumps from reading this post. I can't believe how many people showed up to help...
I, too, feel proud that service is such a big part of our church...
The little guy with the binky & shovel is darn cute...as is the sweet little hardworking boy with the well worn gloves...
It does my heart good to hear about people making a difference like this...
Your ward has done some amazing things. I love the little boy with work gloves that already have a hole because he comes from a hard working family. I want to aspire to that.
It's so wonderful your ward organized this act of service and that so many came out to participate--especially the children--what an example for them and a lesson about the gift of service.
You impressed me so much that you knew you could only stay for an hour but went through with it anyway--sadly, I know I would have rationalized myself out of it. You are really my hero and role model!! :)
That is an amazing service project your ward did! I love that so many people came to help. It is an amazing this we have going on with our church. I love that you do the scripture mastery with your primary. I need to bring that up in our next meeting for next year.
I am making the miracle bread for dinner tonight to go with our soup. Any kind of homemade bread is good in my book.
I keep seeing that picture of your mexican lunch and I am craving it so bad!
This post makes me cry. Sometimes being a member of this church just makes me so happy.
the spirit of this service project reminds me so much of President Hinckley. he was a man who believe in and appreciated work. i am envious of the mother who has raised her children in that spirit. i lack that trait.
i may get slammed for this, but I seriously think this is Utah! You guys do amazing things for people there. I have never heard of such service like you do in your ward. really amazing story!
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