On Facebook, I am friends with the LDS Missionary group. Everyday, they post a spiritual thought. Today was the following:
Joseph B. Wirthlin: Sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to those we meet along the path of life.
Thomas S. Monson: He who gives money gives some, he who gives time gives more, and he who gives of himself gives all. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is important.
I am so grateful for this principal of love and service. Along my own path of life, I have been greatly blessed with people who continually give of themselves. The list of these kind givers is far too many to count. Whether its my parents, who brought me into the world, the neighbors who leave cookies on the doorstep, or the cashier at Costco asking me how my day was, there is love in all of their hearts.
I had a very special experience yesterday as I was giving my time, and it changed to giving my all.
I used to spend a few hours each week at an elementary school my mother works at, observing a first grade classroom for an intro to elementary education class. My time there gave be the opportunity to become very close to a boy named Gavin. Gavin is in a wheel chair and is significantly behind developmentally. I spent time with him reading, and helping him learn his letters, and taking him to his speech class. I stopped going to the classroom in December, since my hours were completed by then.
Gavin's school puts on a Dance Festival each year. This is where each grade learns a dance and perform it for their parents and peers. My mom told me that when Gavin first learned he had to do this dance, he was discouraged and did not want to participate. With convincing from my mother and his other teachers, Gavin decided to give it a try. He would wiggle his wheelchair and clap his hands in the air!
Yesterday, the day of the performance, my mom invites me to come watch Gavin dance. I'm expecting Gavin to not remember me all to well, or to be shy and not talk to me very much. However, much the opposite occurred. Because of the crowd, I honestly do not know what Gavin said, for it was too loud. All I know is that Gavin expressed his greatest appreciation to me. When I went to say "Hello", I grabbed on to my arm and pulled me down to eye level, with a warm, welcoming smile. I could feel his love for me radiating off of those eyes. It was an experience that brought me to tears.
What a tender moment that was for me to feel what it likes to give my all. I am striving towards always giving my ALL. No more giving some or giving more. Although those things will bless others, I know that if Christ were here watching me, I would want to be able to tell him that I have been giving my all. If we all could give a little more ALL, then we would see great changes in the world.
