Covenants

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we make many covenants throughout our lives.  We make them when we are baptized and when we go to the temple.  I've been thinking a lot about the promise that we make when we are baptized.....

"Bear others’ burdens, that they may be light; mourn with those that mourn; and comfort those in need of comfort." 

 The Savior uses us to lift and support one another.  He often answers our prayers through others.  We are his hands on this earth.  It comforts and lifts my heart to know that we are not alone during out time here.  

 As we spend more time loving, lifting and helping than judging, our lives will be blessed as well as the lives of others.  I can think of many who have followed the Saviors call to "Love on Another" as they have helped me in throughout my life.  

The song Hands of Heaven was one of my favorites when I was a young woman.  The words that I can remember go like this....

Easing a burden
Putting a broken heart together again
Guiding a lost friend home
Lifting man higher
Opening the window of a lonely life
Letting the light shine in.

We are the hands of heaven on earth
Reaching out to each other through our good works
We know the Lord is there and through us he can answer prayers
We are his hands, the hands of heaven on earth.

If our hands are always serving 
And often clasped in prayer
We'll find the ones who need us
The Lord will lead us there.

The lyrics to this song are beautiful and so true. We have a responsibility to prayerfully reach out to help others.  The Lord will lead us to those who most need us.

As I thought this last week I shared some of my thoughts with my husband.  He said that when we find ourselves having a difficult time sometimes our first reaction is to go within ourselves.  Of course there is nothing wrong with taking some time to ponder about and process whatever we may be dealing with. But he said the best thing to do with that is to eventually try and force ourselves to look outward and find someone to serve.  As we serve others the Lord will bless us through our own trials.

I have so many examples of people serving around me.  I have a friend who is a perfect example of this.  She is very in tune to people and their needs.  She seems to always be bringing someone dinner or taking their kids.  She is a great example of loving others wherever they are. She builds friendships with inactive members and they know that she loves them unconditionally.  She'll probably read this and know who she is....I hope.  I don't want to embarrass her by giving her name.:)

Life can be hard and hopefully we can all reach out and help make each others journeys here a little easier. 

I know we can! :)