Thursday 2012 November 15
I had the blessing of going to a humanitarian center to work on projects that would be sent around the world to help people who could not help themselves. This humanitarian center is set up for needed projects that will go all over the world, as well as for a drop off place for the local food bank and other organizations helping displaced or needy people.
I have felt the need to "give back" for all the great blessings I have received recently and over my lifetime. My children are grown and the role of grandparent certainly has freed up a lot of my time. Although I still feel there are songs the Lord would have me write, I also feel His gentle prodding to give some of my time to help His other children.
When I arrived at the humanitarian center there were only a couple of cars in the parking lot. The emptiness of the parking lot turned, as I walked into the hall full of tables with working women, into a joyous bouquet of happy beautiful blooms of love.
There were women at different workstations busily crafting their assignments. There were old women, and middle aged women and younger women. There was a buzz of activity and sisterhood that enveloped me even though I had never met any of these women before.
As I put my "shoulder to the wheel", (actually it was to a machine that attached snaps to items of clothing) I could not help watching the younger women who were lovingly watching small children while they worked. What an example of service these younger "mothers" were to me. There they were serving their fellowman, whom they would never meet, while I know there were a thousand other things waiting for them when they returned home. Most young mothers also serve unselfishly as teachers of primary aged children and young women advisers, in Relief Societies, as well as being good neighbors. Women of all religions and backgrounds come together to do what Mother Teresa called, the small things. "There are many people who can do big things, but there are very few people who will do the small things."
As I continue to go to the humanitarian center to do my small part in this effort to bless the lives of those less fortunate than I have been, I am determined to follow the examples of Mother Teresa, who never turned away the small acts of service, and these women I had the privilege of working with who have big responsibilities yet take time to do the 'small' yet needed acts of service.