Service

I do not often Post or Blog this close together. But today I have a topic that I feel needs to be addressed, especially for me. Service.

This week we are having a service activity, where the R.S will be prepping and serving dinner to the Men in our ward. The deeper into planning and executing, the more questions have come up. One of these questions being- What is service? How does this pertain to service? Why?

So I started to do some research on the topic. There are a few different views and meanings of service-

There is Service that which is done to upkeep. Such as servicing a vehicle.

There is Service that which is done by a person within the Military, Having the occupation of serving.

There is Service wherein providing a product, doing something such as a restaurant a food service, or a repair service- fixing and repairing.

Then there is the service which I am specifically referring too. The exact definition upon google being- " The Action of Helping or doing work for someone." Synonyms that are listed, come such as- favor, good turn, kindness, assistance, help, aid, etc.

If we take all 4 types of "Service" We can clearly see that they all meet with the same goal. Doing something for someone else. When we service a car- it is to keep the car running so the person using it can continue to use it. When someone serves in the Military or anytime of special forces- they are serving for their country, their state, their city, their home, their family and their friends. When there is a service offered- a restaurant, serving their customers, a repair shop- fixing something broken for someone who needs it.

All of these equal- helping or doing work for someone. What was the focus in all of these scenarios?
-Person in need of a repair, The person in need of defending and security, the person in need of kindness, the person in need of adequate and functioning items.-

We can see the focus of service is on a person or people. Service is a focus on doing something for someone else. Service is not about me. I primarily find service to be something you don't have to do. Sometimes you need to. But often I find it to be something that needs to be done, that you don't have to do.

The Savior He gave His life for me. For you and for everyone. This was essential for our salvation. It was something that needed to be done. But it was not something that He HAD to do. He did it because He loves us.

In the Gospel Service is rendered in many ways- In a talk I was going through, Elder Steven E. Snow said this- "Service is to be given unselfishly, we give it when needed not when convenient, We need to and have an obligation to serve in callings, and then we need to serve in communities" - "Service requires unselfishness, sharing and giving."

Aren't these all things our Savior did? Is that not what service is?

To me- Service is not just helping someone- it's EVERYTHING. It's looking at someone else besides ourselves. Putting their needs above our own. It's taking time to think about those around us.

So when i look at our activity this week, What is service? It's a matter of taking time to think about and do something for someone else. How does this pertain to service? When the sisters prepare dinner and set up a place for fun and take time to spend there, how is that not service? Focusing on someone else? The brethen, how is that not service? And finally Why? Well the best answer i can give to that is, Why not? Are we not ALL Children of God? Are we not ALL in need of mercy of our Savior? And have we not all got a moment to think about those around us, even if it is something small such as bringing a bowl of Salad so a young man can enjoy some?

Life is challenging. This I know. But Service is Crucial in our Salvation. So when you wonder what service is, or how something is service. I ask you to pray about it, find a way to serve another and look outside yourself. Do as the Savior would do.

Love one another. And Make your focus about them.

Alyssa

An Inner Race. . .

Today, I wanted to write, primarily because life feels clouded and it's confusing.

I started reading the Book of Mormon with a goal to get all the way through, I started last November and am working my way through Alma. Many people I feel as if, get through the scriptures much quicker. But thankfully, this is a race that is a personal. And my reading one chapter a day, everyday, is what I currently give myself.

I guess that is where I wanna take a second to talk about the inner race we are running. No one here can see what that race is. Everyone is different, and everyone has different pleasures, hobbies, likes and dislikes, ambitions and goals. So there is no need to judge.

I am finding that the more people i meet though, the more I seem to find myself being quick to judgement and quick to frustration. I get irritable with my best friend when she doesn't know the answer, I let myself feel annoyed and hurt when my sister or my mom is not available or give me what i want. . . I get angry with the person who cut me off or sped past me on the road, and even get shaky in my faith with the Lord, when He doesn't show Himself more visibly and I can't feel His presence. 

My judgement has been less than flattering I can say that much. And maybe also to those around me. But what is the biggest key factor and the biggest problem with judging, is we are unable to see the inner race people are running or the reasoning behind people.

I forget sometimes, that my Best friend is in an intense program- taking intense classes, and is still learning- how can I expect her to know what i want? When she is running her own race.

Sometimes i forget that my sister is intensely busy, and has her own life- she works and she is working on getting into a competitive grad program. I forget that my mom, works full time, runs sterling scholars, serves others, teaches gospel doctrine and has a husband, 3 daughters, a daughter who walked into our life, a son and a granddaughter- and tons of students - to help, teach and care for.

I don't know the story of the person on the road, but i do know that I am the same way, and I do the same things that bother me that they do. And I forget that I am not the only one late or trying to follow the law.

And I certianly do not know all the reasoning behind my Heavenly Fathers will for me. Someday. Not yet. But with that being said, I think the most important thing I forget about- that we ALL forget about- is the inner race WE run. When we look at what everyone else has on their plate, it is often easier to try to cut them slack and to acknowledge that they need some patience.

But with that being said, what about cutting ourselves some slack for the race we run?  I am not saying it justifies making excuses or being self centered and putting ourselves and our needs above others- that is not right. What I am saying though, is it is okay to have compassion with yourself and try to understand the inner race you run.

I often look at myself, and get frustrated because I talk too much, and I obsess too much and I am not dedicated to the gospel enough. I get mad at myself for not loving God more or serving those around me more. And that I've had plenty of time to improve myself- why aren't you trying harder Alyssa? Why aren't you cutting your family and friends more slack and being more patient with them? Why don't you feel closer to God and why don't you just X, Y and Z?

But that's also not right. When despite what I think about myself or how I think others look at me- I know, that i am certainly trying. When I look at how much I still want someone to always hold my hand, and how much I talk to my sister and how many days I still lack in faith, I know that I am just not quite there yet. But I am CLOSER. I am getting CLOSER.

I am moving forward. And even when it feels like i am absolutely drowning in failure, somewhere in me believes that my Heavenly Father and my Savior can see my efforts. Just like They can see my friends, my families, my coworkers efforts. Even when all seems lost and that you aren't moving forward, remember that everytime you get up and get on your knees The Lord sees it. And guess what?

He remembers that. He remembers You. He remembers Me.

He remembers us. And THAT is so amazing.

Alyssa