Service

I have been hesitant how to post this as I really don't want it to appear as if I am bragging.  Know that the only reason I share this is because the decision to choose to seek opportunities for service has impacted my life and the life of my family in an enormous way.
I have always been willing to serve and help others but it has never been an every day kind of thing.  Opportunities would drift in on occasion and after we would  pass out of times to serve.  I made a conscious decision to try to serve after overhearing a friend of mine talk about how she had a need for people to come help in her classroom for an activity she was planning.  Having a child still at home has often prohibited me from serving more fully in the schools as many times I don't have another place for Gianna to be.  This friend said I could bring her and she sat quietly playing the iPad and not disturbing anyone.  I can honestly say this was THE moment my life pattern changed.
Due to this volunteering opportunity and my weekly tutoring at another school, I started to think that our "seasons" for things are not because circumstances are "just so" but because our willingness to do something more allows us to do more with the same amount of time.  I spoke about this with another service guru who I just think is amazing and she gave me good council that your heart has to be there to make the service worthy.
I continually had the prompting to make it my effort every day to seek an opportunity for service.  I became so excited about this that I invited my family to join me.  Now, as part of our scripture study, we not only journal our blessings together, but we talk about the service we were able to do that day.  We celebrate the way Christ blesses our lives daily and also how we have been able to be the way others can feel Christ's influence in their lives. What was once hard to find one act of service a day has grown to be multiple acts of service per day.  It has brought me more joy to an already joyful life.
Just so you know it isn't simply a change in mindset, I took a short sabbatical from serving outside my home and I became a bit dejected.  It was an awful feeling those few days and I am happy to report I have returned to service and it has continued to increase the joy in my life.
I know this is setting a pattern for my children because they are so excited to share with me how they helped someone.  My little boisterous Gianna was thrilled to come share with me that she helped a little boy go up the ladder and down the slide.  After she came to report, I watched as she continued to serve this younger child and take him by the hand and guide him to safely play on the playground. She feels the joy as well.
We are dedicating this year to service and pray you will join us on this journey.  It can be as simple or elaborate as your opportunity for service may be:  write someone a letter, help someone return a grocery cart, be a listening ear to an elderly person.  It won't matter what the service is; it will matter that you did something for someone else for whom you are not responsible and you will have added joy and peace in your own life.