A little over a week ago Andy and I were out for an evening walk trying to get speakers for the last two Sundays in June. All the spots were filled but one and he turned to me to suggest I be the one to fill that spot.
Oh no! My stress level was pretty high as I’d had a long 12 hour Tuesday and then come home to our realtor letting me know of yet more problems and delays with our home sale and purchase. I was about to my breaking point and could not imagine adding one more thing.
A few days later the spot still wasn’t filled and I casually said I’d probably speak on Sunday if he really needed me to and I’m pretty sure he immediately stopped looking for anyone else. So I’m it!
And I’m thankful for the opportunity to talk on ministering as the savior did.
I truly believe that our lives are improved far more than those we help when we minister.
One example from my life of just this very blessing...Andy of course served a two year mission -- so he was doing his part!
While on his mission he was asked to sing a solo, a young boy's prayer. He needed to practice and asked me to play the piano for him. He came over and we practiced to prepare him for his performance. From that performance our friendship began and eventually I netted a husband and five kids!
We have been in this ward for almost 7 years and during that time I have been privileged to witness ministering at its greatest.
This ward is so concerned about each and every person in our ward family.
I have witnessed the love and friendship as our family members have experienced happy times -- weddings, graduations, babies being born. And sad times -- job losses, homes flooding, critically ill children and spouses and even death.
I have watched as our ward loves and supports one another through the good, the bad and the ugly.
I have learned so much from all of you about how I need to act toward others. I feel I often fall short but I’m going to continue to try to stop focusing on myself and what I need and open my eyes to those around me and how I can improve their lives.
Imagine how wonderful this world could be if we all did that. And I don’t know about you but I always feel happier after I’ve served another.
Ministering is the gift that gives back, You can’t help but love and care about someone when you serve them or they serve you.
So as you go about your life please do your assigned ministering but don’t stop there.
Apply the concept to all people you come in contact with.
Be a good friend, Say kind words. Lend a hand when you can. Laugh, cry, mourn, celebrate life with those around you. Listen. Care.
You will be building a great legacy.
I want to share a story called the Invisible Mother.
Invisible Mother
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?, What's for dinner?'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof. No one will ever see it'
And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing pieces fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home.
And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.
Being a minister is very similar to being a mother. Often times the small acts of kindness, the sacrifices of time and talent, the friendships we forge -- all go seemingly unnoticed. However these same small acts can make a world of difference for someone else.
And while there may be no record of the greatness you’ve done and you may never know the outcome or ending to others stories, and you may make great sacrifices and get no credit, you will have the peace and love in your heart of your heavenly father.
He will know. He will bless you in more ways than you even realize.
I have a testimony of this gospel and of Jesus Christ. I have been blessed over and over again as I’ve been ministered to and ministered to others.
A couple of examples from my own life of these blessings...
My mother was very sick with cancer for many years. During that time she developed lymphoma. This required her to have physical therapy several times a week. Her ward sisters set up a schedule and came every week for a long time to give her therapy. After she died, the week of Thanksgiving, her ward came together and completed a project she had been working on to give all her grandchildren a quilt. She had 12 grandchildren and none of the quilts were done. Several of the ladies stepped up prior to her death and started assembling these patchwork quilts. After she died they had an all day project where they completed the quilts before the funeral.
I am so thankful for the time we’ve had in this ward and the lessons I've learned. Thank you all. I truly love you and am blessed to know you.
I’m thankful for my family and the love and support they give to one another. I’m thankful for my husband and all he does for us.
May we all open our eyes and reach out to others in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
