Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend our ward's Enrichment night. We had a guest speaker who was fabulous. To start off she held up a $20 bill and asked us who wanted it...of course there was many who volunteered to take it off her hands. She then wadded it up and asked the same question, still many takers. She then proceeded to step on it, spit on it, pretended to wipe her under arms with it (that was kinda funny) and once again asked us if we still wanted this $20 bill. Of course there were still many takers. She asked why they'd want it after all she just did to it, to which she was told the value is still the same. I'm sure you see the parallel...no matter what happens to us in life our value is still the same and our value is inmeasurable. She then tied in following the promptings of the spirit to be of service to those around us as we never know how we may help them and what effect it would have in their life. Today my grandpa called and asked if I could find a poem, that he had learned in the mission field, for him online. When I found it I couldn't help but think about what I had heard at Enrichment. I really hope I can be more proactive in listening to the spirit and taking action.
I Knelt to Pray
I knelt to pray as day began
And prayed, "Oh God, bless every man.
Lift from each weary heart some pain
And let the sick be well again."
And then I rose to meet the day
And thoughtlessly went on my way
I didn't try to dry a tear
Or take the time a grief to hear.
I took no steps to ease a load
Of hard-pressed travelers on the road;
I didn't even go to see
The sick friend who lives next to me
But then again when day was done
I prayed "Oh God bless everyone"
But as I prayed a voice rang clear
Instructing me to think and hear
"Consult your own heart as you pray;
What good have you performed today?
God's choicest blessings are bestowed
On those who help him bear the load."
And then I hid my face and cried,
"Forgive me, Lord, For I have lied.
Let me live another day
And I will live it as I pray."
- Sterling W. Sill
4 comments:
WOW This is an awesome poem. I remeber learning this same principle on my mission. Pray until something happens doesn't mean to literally to be on our knees until something happens but for us to have a prayer in our hearts so we can recognize the help we can provide.
Wow I love this poem! It is something IO remember learning in the mission field. Praying until something happens does not mean to be literally on our knees until something happens, it means for us to have a pray in our heart continually to recognize what we can do to help other and anwser their prayers.
I love that poem and you are so good to find it for your Grandpa. I have heard that example about the $20 bill before and think it is so powerful. Thanks for sharing!
I like that great food for thought.
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