This weekend, I am humbled by the amazing men from our congregation at church. A few months ago, we had a youth activity at our home. A man from our ward (the name for our congregations) told me he was concerned about our roof making it through another winter and volunteered to help put on new shingles. Another gentleman nearby piped up and said he could help as well. We knew our roof needed repair, but we’ve been concerned about the cost, time, and labor involved. This was truly a blessing.
Last month, my husband started solidifying plans to repair the roof and I was surprised when he told me it was scheduled for Labor Day weekend and that several men from our ward volunteered to come help. Tim worked like crazy Thursday and Friday nights scraping off the old shingles, with one friend coming to help because he would be traveling Saturday.
The weekend came and Tim was up at 5:40 so there would be donuts and juice for workers. Between 6 am and 7 am, our friends came. Some stayed for a few hours, some arrived at different times during the day, others remained throughout the entire day, even returning after a break. Their wives and families sacrificed time with these men on a precious day off.
The weekend came and Tim was up at 5:40 so there would be donuts and juice for workers. Between 6 am and 7 am, our friends came. Some stayed for a few hours, some arrived at different times during the day, others remained throughout the entire day, even returning after a break. Their wives and families sacrificed time with these men on a precious day off.
These men – 18, 30, 45, and in between worked in the hot sun bent over for hours without complaint. They hammered, hauled, talked, and laughed, stopping for only a short time to consume pizza and Gatorade. When Saturday ended, they weren’t completely finished. It is Monday morning, Labor Day, a holiday where many are lounging and sleeping in. But they have returned and new friends have come to help.
I am in awe. Humbled. Incredibly grateful. Service comes so naturally to these men and I am so grateful for the example. They are working hard and would probably like to relax, but the satisfaction in their work, the joy in helping others, is in visible in their faces. I’ve heard the challenge “Do hard things” repeated often lately, with the lesson that some of the most rewarding things in life are challenging, take effort, and go beyond momentary pleasure. I am seeing this in action. I only wish my children were a bit older so they could see the sacrifice being made on their behalf.
My lovely new roof will always be a reminder of their friendship, of the charity in their hearts, of how we can make service an integral part of our lives.
Service to others deepens and sweetens this life while we are preparing to live in a better world. It is by serving that we learn to serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves! In the midst of the miracle of serving, there is the promise of Jesus that by losing ourselves, we find ourselves!
The happy and abundant life begins from within and then moves outward to other individuals and to our communities. If there is richness and righteousness in us, then we can make a difference in the lives of others and in our towns, just as key individuals have influenced the lives of each of us for good and made us richer than we otherwise would have been.
What is our greatest potential? Is it not to be Christlike ourselves? And what are the qualities we must develop to achieve such greatness? We might consider intelligence, light, knowledge, and leadership. But perhaps the most essential godlike quality is that of compassion and love—compassion shown forth in service to others, unselfishness, that ultimate expression of concern for others we call love. Wherever our Father’s children magnify their opportunities for loving service, they are learning to become more like Him.
What great friends!
I love hearing about how people of God bless their own. We grow closer to each other and God through these wonderful ACTS of service. So often we focus on only the unchurched and saving souls (which is important) but when we can help a Christian bother or sister we rejuvinate them so they can continue their service. Thank you for sharing your blessing.
I am horrible about accepting help, so I am so glad you took their help and were able to get your roof solidified for the winter!
How heartwarming and wonderful!
Ally