Hello my
family and friends!
I had started to get worried in the beginning of the week, just wondering if
what I was doing was enough. For some reason, it troubled me, although I knew
that my service was acceptable before the Lord. I
decided to kneel in humble prayer and ask Heavenly Father for a confirmation of
my service. How could I know that what I
was doing was enough? As I closed my
prayer and pondered for a minute, the scripture
Doctrine & Covenants 58:3 kept repeating in my mind. I did not know why, nor did I even know what
that scripture was because I am not too familiar with all of the scriptures in
the Doctrine & Covenants (the
Doctrine & Covenants is revelation given to Joseph Smith from Jesus Christ
and it is recorded for the members of the church and all who desire to read
it). I ran to my scriptures and turned
to it, wondering
why the Spirit would put that reference into my mind. "Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes,
for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which
shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much
tribulation." (Doctrine & Covenants 58:3). This was an answer to my prayer.
Sometimes we may feel like what we are doing is not enough, whatever circumstance
it might be in your life. I have an analogy;
I hope that you can understand it because it made sense to me. At a service project this weekend, serving
with 9 other missionaries, there was a lake behind the woman's home where we
could just look at it and the beauty around. It had been a long time that I have seen a
lake. I
stared out into the water; Elders were throwing sticks in the water. Then this one Elder through in a pinecone, I
watched as it sunk right offhand and its' effect made a circular ripple wave
that began at the
clash and then spread far out. I imagined
myself doing a cannonball into a pool. All
I know is the effect that I made when I jumped in, but cannot see the ripple
effect that the waves had on the rest of the
water because I'm still down under. I
may not be able to see the effect with my 'natural eyes', but God can.
After having that experience with prayer, God blessed me with so many opportunities
to serve this weekend. All of which were
different events and circumstances, but it was the absolute best. I thought of
the Savior as I participated in these service activities:
'First observe, then serve'
Helping a grandmother put a trunk full of groceries into her home while she was
taking care of her grand child.
Cleaning a backyard.
Cleaning three homes to help a home be a heaven on earth.
Painting a home with my fellow missionaries whom I serve with as well as loading
a moving truck for 'Make a Difference Day'.
The most rewarding part was that we were able to develop friendships with each
of these families and individuals as the Savior would do with us if He were
serving alongside us. He would get to
know us and
our interests and dislikes. Most of all,
we were still able to accomplish all that we needed to the rest of the day even
though some of these opportunities to serve were spontaneous. When we give of our time to serve others, God
will bless us with even more time to accomplish all that we need to. Why? Because 'when ye are in the service of your
fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God' (Mosiah 2:17).
Serving is a Christ like attribute. I learned
that it stems off of the Christ like attribute of 'charity'-which is the pure
love of Christ. It's more than just the
big projects (even though those are extremely helpful) when helping our fellow
brothers and sisters, but it's the small and simple things that brighten somebody
else's day or lightens a load whether it is spiritually or physically. For example, serving
through kind words and gestures. There
is a member who lives in a nursing home, cannot walk. When she serves someone,
she expresses loving words and smiles to those around her. Others can see the light
of Christ within her and will feel loved through her efforts. The invitation is to; find another way to serve
a little more than the day before. The counsel from the prophet Thomas S.
Monson always plays
back in my mind. To commit each day to
do and be a little better, blessings will be showered upon you as you do this
simple, but sweet commandment.
We are looking forward to November 23, which is the day that April and her son
Brice will be baptized! Please keep this family in your prayers as they are
preparing to enter into the waters of baptism and make those covenants with a
God, which will bless them for eternity.
I love all of you and I would love to hear from you as well!Write me
and I will write back to you.
1845 Old Moultrie #43
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Love, Sister McCook
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