On Wednesday, I received an email from my Elder's Quorum, reminding everyone that we were doing a service project that night, and we would be helping to reshingle the roof for a family in the Ward.
I was annoyed. I thought "This is a student ward. Don't they know that this is the last week of school, and finals are coming up? Can't they wait until after school ends to do this?" I chose not to assist in the service project. I thought my schoolwork was more important.
Today in Sunday School, a sister shared how she had been contacted 3 weeks ago by their home insurance, informing her that if they did not make much-needed repairs to their home, the insurance company would drop coverage. She expressed how grateful she was to the men of the priesthood for helping in the rush to make those repairs, especially in the repair and reshingling of their roof.
I was overwhelmed. How could I have been so selfish and callous? How could I have been so u willing to help and serve?
I was tempted to rationalize, "If I had known there was a time frame for this service, I would have been more willing to help". But then I thought, in the spirit of the words of Christ in Matthew 5:46-47, "If you only serve when their need exceeds your own, what reward have ye?"
I realized that I was wrong, and I needed to change my attitude. I needed to humble myself, and be more loving and charitable, and willing to serve.
I am grateful to the Lord for teaching me this lesson today. I am also grateful for men who were more consecrated and Christ-like than I, who answered the call to serve.
I anxiously look forward to the next service project our Quorum does. I will be there, happy to serve.
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