A few days ago I listened to some of the words spoken at the funeral of President Thomas S. Monson and was impressed by this remark, “In a time of Selfies, he sought selflessness.”
It was also said of him that he lived to be able to say, “I feel I’ve done some good today.”
I too want to live as President Monson did. I want to work toward selflessness and in doing some good each day.
It’s easy to get discouraged, to feel like I’m not doing enough for others, but then I’m blessed with reminders–like this throw back post written in 2011–that some of the most important work I’ll do in this life will happen within the walls of my own home.
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Lucky me…
June 11, 2011
Tonight while trying to watch a movie with Rick, two of my little ones came into our room and started arguing over who got to have “mommy and me time”. I tried to tell them that they could both spend time with me but that I would first like to finish my movie so please go upstairs and wait.
They were reluctant, unhappy and in need of my time and attention so I asked myself, “hey self, can this silly movie bring even a fraction of the fulfillment and joy to your life that these little ones are offering you right now?” To which I answered myself, “Um no self I don’t believe it can.”
So I walked away from the movie and gave each of my little ones a piggy back ride up the stairs to the family room, where we sat together and read “Stone Soup”. It was quite lovely.
Later as I stood in my kitchen preparing a roast for tomorrow’s dinner I thought to myself how very lucky I am to have so many people who want to spend their time with me. I’m very loved and this is a wonderful feeling indeed.
And as the words to the hymn “Have I done any good in the world today” played through my mind this evening (as it often does when I replay my day) instead of feeling like a bit of a failure for not reaching out to do this that or the other for my neighbors and friends, I thought of my sweet little family and answered…
Yes, yes I have.