I just got back from being out of town for 2 weeks and have been trying to catch up with life but seem to be getting little done. It seems I have so many people to see, so many tasks to do, so many calls to return and chores to finish. In trying to excuse away my delinquent behavior to a friend, I examined my life of the last several days.
Sunday I got to visit with a friend who was moving and help hold her babies while she packed. Spent time with my family and niece and nephew that I don't get nearly enough time with.
Then I had the chance to visit my friend Mike (who is in a coma from a motorcycle accident) and his fiance Lisa and his mom Lauri. We have become friends over the year that he has been in a coma. I am deeply touched by their ability to love and care for Mike, when he has given them very little acknowledgement of their presence or effort on his behalf for over a year. Lisa still wears her engagement ring and intends to stay by Mike's side for the rest of her life. She is the embodiment of true love.
I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me.
On Monday, I took the day off work and drove to Bountiful to pick up my aging grandparents and take them to a funeral of a woman who was younger than both of they. They can no longer drive and are starting to need more assistance with the every day tasks of living.
As they shuffled out to my car in their Sunday dress, I thought about how it must have taken them hours to dress and get ready that morning. I took them out to eat after and watched them carefully chew the food. My grandpa is slowly losing his teeth and his ability to eat solid food, but not his enthusiasm and love for having family around. Before I left for the day he shoved a 20 dollar bill into my hands for my dinner and gave me a hug. He has left a legacy of family love that I will never be able to repay. My grandma mentioned something about wasting my whole day just to take them to a funeral.
I can't imagine a better use of my time.
For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink.
When I returned from Bountiful on Monday, our ward was having a baptismal ceremony for a young man who just turned 18. He's lived in Utah his entire life and has always known the church is true, but had to wait until he was 18 to get baptized, as his parents opposed his joining the church. As a new member he was undoubtedly overwhelmed by the new path on which he was embarking alone. Yet the support of new ward family members showing up for his baptism was just as overwhelming. A ceremony that lasts less than 5 minutes, and over 100 people showed up for support.
I was a stranger and ye took me in
Later that evening, we went to our FHE group, however no one showed up. Lisa (my roommate) and I decided it would be a good chance to visit some people in our ward who hadn't been out to church recently. Chad Korgh just got in a motorcycle accident and broke his leg in 3 places. Had surgery in the hospital without anyone knowing about it, and had been home and bed-bound for about a week before we found him. We arranged meals to be brought, rides for him, visitors to comfort. He was so grateful we came by and spent some time with him.
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me
Then off to another friend. I met her two weeks ago when I was looking into the people that were in our FHE group. She hadn't been responding to texts or phone call invitations since then, but we had made a connection before I left when I told here I was going to Michigan, her home state. As we chatted in her grandparents home she told me of personal things, like bi-polar disorder, and the social anxiety she had going to new places without a friend, how she felt enslaved by her emotional conditions. When I asked if she would like a friend to go to church or institute with, she got teary-eyed. "Yes, that is exactly what I need".
I was in prison, and ye came unto me
At the end of the day on Tuesday I was exhausted. I got home and it seemed there were a million emails, missed calls and texts, laundry to do, food to make, errands to run. And I thought, what have you done with your day? You didn't get anything done!
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my bretheren, ye have done it unto me.
I am so grateful for the moments when I am allowed to be an instrument in the master's hands. It humbles me to think that anything I am doing is unto Him- it all seems so imperfect. Yet, we are His hands here.
So emails can wait. Phone calls and socializing with friends will resume soon. The laundry and food and sleep will have it's place. But for now, Savior may I love my brother, as I know thou lovest me. I would be my brother's keeper, I would learn the healer's art. To the wounded and the weary I would show a gentle heart. I would be my brother's keeper. Lord, I would follow thee.
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