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This is not a new concept for me, but one that I have often felt that I am not good at doing. I have a hard time remembering to ask God who I can serve, and I have a hard time feeling like I receive specific guidance about who to serve and how to serve them when I do ask. I decided recently to redouble my efforts to ask those two questions and carry out what I feel inspired to do. The first night I was saying a prayer before I went to bed and realized I had not been given an opportunity. Immediately I realized that was not true. More than once I had thought about texting a friend of mine and asking how things were going. That was what I had been directed to do. So simple.
I have been out of town visiting old friends and had the chance to read the book "The Ultimate Gift" where a young man from a privileged background is given an opportunity to learn some life lessons like the love of learning, the value of money, friendship and the gift of giving. This young man is challenged to give something that is truly his to give (not the money that was given to him or the things that money could buy). He had to come up with something to give every day for 30 days. The first thing he gave away was an ideal parking spot to an elderly couple. Some of his other gifts included a pint of his own blood, time to read to blind students, wrote a poem and sent it to a friend, let people use his house for a charity reception and baked cookies for an elementary school's bake sale. I again was struck by how simple most of these things were.
It seems to me that the best things we can give always include giving a part of ourselves. Those simple things have the capacity to have a large and lasting impact on others. I also realized that I do try very hard to do kind things for others - those who are close to me and strangers I may never see again. While I should not stop praying to know who I can help and how I can help them, I should also not stop planning things I can do to reach out in love to others.
The following words from the Doctrine and Covenants (revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith) came to my mind as I was thinking about all this:
26For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is acompelled in all things, the same is a bslothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27Verily I say, men should be aanxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
28For the power is in them, wherein they are aagents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their breward.
I do not have to be "commanded" or in this case, directly inspired in order to do good. I can be anxiously engaged in many good things of my own free will.
