A Life of Service

This week we studied about how we need to care for each other both in our personal lives and as we consider what we want to do in our professional lives.  I remember listening to Elder Jeffry R. Holland’s talk, “Are We Not All Beggars?”  In conference a few yeas ago and being impressed by its power.  Reading it again this week, I noticed a different part of his message.  What I noticed can be summed up when Elder Holland quoted “because I have been given much, I too must give.”  My family has struggled financially for many years.  We have remained below the poverty level for our entire married life.  Our story is complicated, but it has been a long struggle through multiple jobs, mental illness, bearing children, and gaining an education.  That being said, Heavenly Father has always made sure that my family has more than enough for our family.  For many years my focus has been on making our money go as far as possible.  In the past year we have been led to a path that is leading us to financial stability.  Hearing this talk again from this point in my life, reflected on the gratitude I have for the many people and blessings I have received to get me where I am now.  I also realized that I want to be that blessing for others who are in need.  I’m not sure yet what I am able to do to lift others beyond what I have been doing, but I know that I need to search it out.

I also learned about the need to make any of our business endeavors meaningful to us.  We need to seek a way to help others.  We need to find the thing that we do well and use it to bless the lives of those around us.  We could take whatever job comes across our path that earns us money, but that may not be the job that Heavenly Father has called us to accept to help us become the person He wants us to become.