- True Christlike service is selfless and focuses on others.
She reminds us that children should learn how to service others while they are young.
- When children learn how to love and serve others when they are young, they set a pattern of service for the rest of their lives. Often children teach the rest of us that showing love and service doesn’t have to be big and grandiose to be meaningful and make a difference.
She shares that serving others will help others feel the love the Savior has for them.
- When we reach out in love and service even in the smallest ways, hearts are changed and softened as others feel the love of the Lord.
The daily chores in our lives my get in the way of us serving as much as we would like to. SOmetimes we feel overwhelmed with all we have to do. But we need to remember we are on the Lord's errand and He will support our efforts.
- Some of you listening may feel stretched to capacity ministering to the needs of family members. Remember, in those routine and often mundane tasks, you are “in the service of your God.”
She then gives us some simple examples of things we can to do lift others.
- All of us can incorporate some service into our daily living. We live in a contentious world. We give service when we don’t criticize, when we refuse to gossip, when we don’t judge, when we smile, when we say thank you, and when we are patient and kind. Other kinds of service take time, intentional planning, and extra energy. But they are worth our every effort.
She concludes with her thoughts on what brings meaning into our lives.
- I have come to know that it is the love of God and neighbor that gives meaning to life. May we follow our Savior’s example and His admonition to reach out to others with love.
Sister Esplin shares great insights into how we can assist the Lord in reaching out to His children. One story she told was how the Friend Magazine encouraged children to do an act of service and then trace their hands and write in the hand the service they did and send them into the magainze. What a great way to show us that service is done with our hands. Just as the Savior took his teachings to a higher level, Sister Esplin reminded us that it takes our hands, but it also takes our heart. Serving others is a way that we can all show our discipleship.