One Drop at a Time

Do you ever wonder if your efforts to serve make any difference at all?  There is a book by M. Russell Ballard, an apostle of the LDS church, entitled One Drop at a Time that addresses this very topic.  He compares our efforts to serve with that of a tiny honey bee: (The book is based from a talk given by M. Russel Ballard that can be read here.)

"It is estimated that to produce just one pound of honey, the average hive of 20,000 to 60,000 bees must collectively visit millions of flowers and travel the equivalent of two times around the world.

Over its short lifetime of just a few weeks to four months, a single honeybee's contribution of honey to its hive is a mere one-twelfth a teaspoon.

Though seemingly insignificant when compared to the total, each bee's one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey is vital to the life of the hive. The bees depend on each other.  Work that would be overwhelming for a few bees to do becomes lighter because all of the bees faithfully do their part."

Our service efforts are never in vain, even if it will take a million "flowers" to make any difference.  We may be aware or unaware of all the individuals that will do service for a particular need, but if we do our part, a difference will be made.  Even if the difference is to soften our own hearts.

My husband and I like to watch E:60 on ESPN.  It is a show that highlights unique stories from athletes; sometimes they are quite touching.  One we watched lately was on a minor league ball player named Matt Szczur.  It is about how one unselfish act saved the life of someone he didn't ever know.  It is a little long but worth the time.  You can watch it here.

This week I made two printable because I couldn't decided which I liked better.

download free 8x10 printable here

download free 8x10 printable here

Fill Your Life With Service

Having a science wired brain, I love step by step instructions and formulas to find solutions to what I need or want out of life.  This quote comes from a talk by President Thomas S. Monson, current prophet and president of the LDS church.  He gives us a three-part formula to guide our lives.

1. Fill your mind with truth
2. Fill your heart with love
3. Fill your life with service

I love how he says we do not just stumble upon truth, it is something we must search for.  Truth for me comes through my faith, by studying scripture and reading words from good and true people...like the quotes I collect!  

As for love, I think love is the answer for most everything.  If we all had more love for our neighbor and for ourselves would we have many of the problems we face today?  I think not.  

Service is just a form of love.  If you love someone, you would do anything for them, right?  We are often so  willing to serve those we love, but we also serve those we don't love or don't even know because we love God.  When we serve others, we serve our God.

You can read all of President Monson's talk here.

download 8x10 printable here

Everybody can Serve

This is a great quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  It is from his sermon "The Drum Major Instinct,"  his last sermon given before his death.  In his sermon, Dr. King encourages us to seek greatness through serving others.

He says:  "If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great,  because everybody can serve.  You don't have to have a college degree to serve.  You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. (Amen) You only need a heart full of grace,  a soul generated by love.  And you can be that servant."

I can't say it any better than that.  

download free 8x10 printable here

Service in October

The theme for this month is service.  Service is one of the best ways to make yourself feel better.  Why?  Helping others gives us true happiness and lasting satisfaction that gratifying our self-interests can never duplicate.  I believe this is true because this what the Savior does for us.  "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).  And isn't that what we all are want...LOVE?

Service can range from the grand self-sacrificing to the simple smile.  You'd be surprised how much a genuine smile can brighten someone's day...I know because I have been on the receiving end.  So if you are feeling down, give someone else a lift and see how your mood soars!

 download free printable here