Why Serving Can Heal

Something is coming, something is going to change, something just doesn't feel right.  Anxiety racked my mind and body, I just felt unsettled, on the edge like something was going to happen.  I couldn't pin point when it started or even what triggered it.  Maybe it was looking at floor plans of homes we could never afford, or the fact that every new month is a new record length of time we have stayed in one place, so it just feels like it is time for a change.  No matter what I did though, I just felt on edge.

What could I do to get my peace back?  What could I do to realize that everything was okay?

The answer came in a simple way, in only about 20 minutes of time.

The peace came when I served.

In my church there is a visiting teaching program, where two women from church are paired to visit and look out for the women they are assigned to.  I have had the same visiting teaching companion since I first moved into this area.  She is another young mom like me, in pretty similar stage of life, many people often ask if we are sisters.  She and I had been assigned some other young moms, who it was easy to visit as they were also our friends.

Earlier this year we were assigned a new sister, someone who had just moved into the ward who was in a very different stage of life.  At first I wondered why had we been assigned to her, it seemed like they would have wanted to assign someone in a similar stage in life, someone that could be a great friend for her.

But we accepted the assignment and before we even had a chance to get a first visit in, we heard she was sick.  Cancer that should have claimed her life many years ago had returned.  I immediately volunteered to bring her dinner, admittedly making a nicer dinner than I often do for my own family.

She and her husband were so appreciative.  I texted her occasionally to see if there was anything else she needed.

Last week we went to visit her again, this time under far worse circumstances, as her days are numbered.  Before we went in, my companion and I bowed our heads and prayed that we would know what to say, how to bring at least a little peace and happiness at this time.  Both of us felt inadequate, as what can you say in a moment like this.

As we visited with this sweet sister, her home was filled with such a sweet spirit and I had no doubt that our Father in Heaven had heard our prayers and guided us what to say.  I knew and felt how much Heavenly Father loved her and I felt that love too.   This sweet sister whom I had only known a few months, I loved her.

After our visit I dropped my companion off at her house.  On my drive home I just relished in the peace and happiness I felt.  All the anxiety, the unease... it was gone.  I felt at peace.  Suddenly everything I had was more than good enough, life felt wonderful and in that moment life was its own kind of perfect.  The trivial things, the worldly concerns and worries did not matter.

Even in the face of death and hardships, there can be peace as there is a plan.  A true plan of happiness as we are all beloved daughters and sons of a loving Heavenly Father.  I was only able to really remember this, really feel this as I served.

It is through service to others, putting others first,  seeing and feeling that person as our Father in Heaven does, that is the way to peace.  That is the way to heal our troubled hearts.  Just give.

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