Service is not a season- it is a lifestyle.

Service is not a season- it is a lifestyle.

One of the greatest lessons I learned through the last 5 months was that of Service.  This has been one of the lessons I probably needed most.  I've always known that service is an important part of our lives and felt it was something I needed to try and accomplish more of.  But for the past 12 years of my life I've always told myself there is a “Season for Service”- right now is the time for me to serve my family.  Service for others was put on the back burner.  I did do a little here and there, but it was hard to look outside the realms of my own busy life.  I look at it very different now!!  Although I still believe serving your husband and children needs to come first, I know that there is always a chunk of time that can be carved out of your day to serve others as well. 

If you don’t have time to serve others, you are busier than God ever wanted you to be.

In a recent general conference talk one of the speakers said, "When someone is drowning, do you say let me know if you need help?"  I really learned the meaning of this during the last three months.  Often times when someone is going through a trial they feel like they are drowning.  I know there were many days when I felt this way.  I truly appreciated all the offers I received from people when they said, “Let me know, if you need help” but it was one of the hardest things for me to ask for help when the time arose that I did need it.  It was a lot easier to accept help from others when they said things like, "I am going to help you- what do you need most?", “What day should I bring dinner?”, “What day can I watch your kids?”, or “What room in your house should I clean.”  My advice from here on out is that if you feel the inspiration to offer service, go forward with it.  Don’t just put the offer on the table- make something happen.  It will be appreciated, and most likely much needed. 

The key word with service is Inspiration.  Often times the question arises- “Is it inspiration or just perspiration?” (lol)  I think-“Does it really matter?”  It is all too easy to disregard those little inspired thoughts that cross your mind.  If you have a thought of a person go through your mind-SERVE them.  It can be something as simple as a phone call, text, a candy bar, or a card. It doesn’t matter if it is the worst or the best day of that person’s life.  It will make a difference- everyone loves to know that they are cared about.  There were many days through Kate’s journey when I felt ok, but I still received acts of service or thoughtful messages from others.  Even though I wasn’t in dire need of help- it was very touching to be loved and thought about by others!

On the other hand- I do believe that we need to pray daily that our eyes will be opened to those around us that are in need of service.  I know that the Lord will guide us to those individuals.      We need that inspiration to help others.    

My testimony was really strengthened by those tender moments when I unexpectedly received a message, or act of service from someone when I really needed it.  I know Heavenly Father prompted many people to help us during the hardest times.  I had a friend who surprised me by bringing a meal over the night before my cerclage surgery.  She had no idea I was having complications.  Neither, she or I knew the next day was going to lead to several months of hardship.  I know she was inspired that day.  More important than the meal she brought was the comfort that came through knowing Heavenly Father was there for me.  It seemed he was sending me a message saying, “I am with you.”  That same friend texted me several weeks after Kate was born on a random day and asked what she could do for me.  I was really struggling that day trying to decide who I could ask to watch my girls and she dropped everything- including work- so she could help me. On one Sunday afternoon I went to the hospital and left Josh home sick with three sick kids.  An inspired friend brought dinner over that evening, not knowing any of this.  On another occasion a dear friend brought a wagon full of frozen dinners over.  Little did we know that it was perfect timing because I would soon be spending a lot more time at the hospital preparing to bring Kate home. There were many more times that we received inspired service, including the gifts of money that helped us out so much.  I'm so grateful for all the friends and family that followed their promptings. 

  It seemed that every week we received several acts of unexpected service up until the day Kate came home.  This really surprised me after the first few weeks had passed because usually it seems that the world moves on and forgets.  I felt like people continued to remember and care for us throughout the whole eleven week journey.  I think it is important to remember to serve others often who are going through long-lasting trials that can extend for months and even years.  There are those that have lost loved ones in which their trial is that of very slow emotional healing, and there are many that have severe depression or chronic illnesses.  These people cannot not be forgotten.  

When we give of ourselves, we give the most!  The gift of time is the greatest gift of all.

I have learned that service isn't about how much money you have to offer and it doesn’t always have to take a lot of time.  Those have always been two of my biggest excuses for not doing service.  I have learned that there are many things you can do for others without spending much money or time. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter most- a phone call, a card, a text, a quick house visit, or a small act of kindness.  Take a moment to think back on your life- the most rewarding service most likely came from someone spending time with you- by either helping you do something or emotionally being available for you to talk to. 

Although time is such a valuable resource, service often takes money too.  Money comes and goes, it’s what we do with it that matters most.  There have been many times in my life when I have been prompted to serve and I’ve talked myself out of it because I felt like we didn’t even have enough money for my families needs and I couldn’t possibly spend it on someone else.  When this happens now, I remind myself of the story in the Bible in Kings ch. 17.  The Prophet Elijah asks a widow to cook him a meal with the last of her oil and flour.  Knowing that she and her son would starve to death without it, she serves him.  Have we ever been at that point- I dare to say that not many of us have.  So what's the hold up- why is it so hard to give of what we do have?  That widow was blessed for her service- her barrel of flour and jar of oil never again became empty.  We too will be blessed in more ways than we can imagine- we will not be left to starve.  Service is like “Karma”- what goes around, comes around. 
 
Service is a source of love and bonding.  My relationships have been strengthened with friends and family- old and new. I feel like service has brought many great friends into my life that I didn't know or realize were there before.  I developed and strengthened several relationships by spending time with selfless ladies that gave of their time to me.  It’s almost a sure guarantee that a friendship will be formed by getting to know each other during these times.  A strong love of appreciation will ensue for years to come. 

 Service should be an essential part of your family.  Josh and I decided that Service is one of the five values we feel are important for our children to truly learn before they are old enough to move out.  Involve your children in your service and they will see that you value it and they in turn will learn to do it also.  There is no better way to teach your kids the importance of service than by setting the example yourself.  Teach by Example.    Service in itself is rewarding.  Children will learn early on the good feeling that helping others brings and their desire to do it will increase.

  Service should be a priority every single day.  There are many things to do that are good, but they might not be the best use of time.  There are ways to cut back on daily activities to accumulate small increments of time to serve.   Priorities have to be finely tuned and balanced.  Think about how much time is spent at the gym, cleaning, reading, with friends, baking, getting ready for the day, crafting or decorating, with sports and hobbies, with screen time (ipads, tv, computers, phones,etc.).  There is always something that can be reduced or cut out and replaced with service.  It is very easy to busy ourselves with too many things that seem important in the moment when in reality they are not. 

Now & Later---Make time for the important things "Now" because they are ultimately the things that will matter the most "Later."