Giving and Receiving . . .

 

(source)

I saw this story recently and thought I would like to share it with you. I hope that you are able to get something out of it.

Once upon a time there was a little girl who went to school, and over a period of time her teacher noticed that she was having problems reading in her reading class. It was something about the way she held the book which made the teacher realize that there was a problem with the little girl's eyes, and so she arranged for an eye examination at her own oculist, not as a charity case but as the girl's friend. Indeed, the child did not really know what was happening, but saw it as merely a fun activity . . . until the day the teacher presented her with a brand new pair of eye glasses at school.

 

(source)

The child looked at her teacher . . . "I can't take them. I can't pay for them." was her response, embarassed by her own poverty.

The teacher replied. "When I was a child, a neighbor bought glasses for me. She said I should pay for them someday by getting eye glasses for some other little girl. So, you see, the glasses were paid for before you were born."

And then came the most welcome words ever . . . "Someday you will buy glasses for some other little girl."

That statement made all the difference in the world . . . it took away the shame of having to take charity and turned the receiver into a giver. It helped to make the little girl responsible. With that one giving action and beautiful statement, the teacher showed the little girl that she believed that one day this child would have something to offer someone else. That little girl walked out of the room, clutching the eye glasses feeling not as a recipient of charity, but as a trusted courier.

When my marriage first broke up all those years ago, I found myself living on a very limited income in a rented bedroom in a stranger's house. Things were very, very tight for me. One day I opened the back door to see a friend from church standing on the doorstep. She clutched several bags of groceries in her hands. Inside was a variety of beautiful food for me to eat . . . fruit, vegetables, etc. She had noticed, I guess, that I was not able to eat much more than pot noodles etc. on my very limited budget. I was somewhat embarassed by this . . . I am a prideful person, but she very lovingly explained to me that she believed that sometime down the road I would find myself in the position to do a similar act of kindness for another friend and that to deprive her of this action meant to deprive her of the blessings one receives from being able to share with and serve another. This made all the difference in the world to me . . . it truly did.

I have since then had many opportunities myself to do similar acts of service for others, and I always do so in a way that the recipient sees it as an opportunity to be able to pass the same service on to some other soul, somewhere down the road . . . the circumstances we may find ourselves in today, are not always the circumstances we will always find ourselves in. Life ebs and flows, the path we're all following being sometimes an easy path to trod and at other times, a more difficult path to circumnavigate . . . When we find ourselves blessed with having received service from others, we must accept it with grace . . . knowing in our hearts that one day we, too, will have a similar opportunity to serve. We are only the trusted couriers of all that we may receive . . .

 

We had a really busy day yesterday.  In the morning we slipped over to Costco.  They have the best price for petrol for the car. Its as much as 10p a litre cheaper than it is at some places.  I was going to buy muffins because the new Senior Missionary Couple that is serving here in Chester was coming over in the afternoon so we could help them with a few things.  I didn't though because in the end I thought they were too big and I could make nicer ones at home, so we came home and I baked muffins.  Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.  These are sooo good. I always blitz my bananas in my small food processor now, as they end up with no lumps, just pureed banana which  mixes into anything really well.  Then the Boyers came over and we helped them with the things they needed help with and we got to know them a bit better. They are such a lovely Senior couple, from Utah.  

I've started drinking a warm drink every morning made with boiled water, some organic cider vinegar (with the mother) and honey.  I am hoping that it will help with this gastric problem. I do not want to have to go and have another scope test.  I hated it so much the first time I had it done and I really, really don't want to have it done again. Hopefully this will help.  It doesn't taste too bad actually. 

My mom is going in tomorrow morning (early, early) to have her angioplasty done, so I will be calling her this afternoon. The last one was cancelled due to the hospital not having had any power the day before, so I am really hoping that she can get this one done and over with, so there is no more waiting.  I am really hoping that she will feel a lot better afterwards and that the circulation in her feet will have improved enough that she can keep them.  You know I think that the real difference in health between she and my dad has been that my mother smoked and my father didn't.  He quit when he was young and my mother didn't quit until she was well up into her late 60's.  If you smoke. Quit.  It does so much damage, and not just cancer. (Although my mother has had that twice.)  I am so glad I quit, even though I gained weight in doing so.  (Now if I could only lose that!) Please pray that all will go well with this procedure, thanks so much!

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.Though we are incomplete,

God loves us completely.

Though we are imperfect,

He loves us perfectly.

Though we may feel lost

and without compass,

God's love encompasses us

completely.•。★★ 。* 。

 ~Dieter F Uchtdorf 

Spiritual Enlightenment  

 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER 

Tomorrow's Reading  -  Mosiah 27:18-37 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? How do we "become new creatures"? 

Thoughts - I become a new creature every time I yield to the enticings of the natural man, and use the grace and atonement of Jesus Christ. It changes my trajectory by a few degrees and helps me to align my will more closely to Heavenly Fathers. The other way, is an "easier" path, but one that will never lead to happiness or peace. I know when I'm being renewed, because I want to share the wonder of the gospel with everyone. 

My focus is now decidedly outward and I try my best to follow the example of Christ (as imperfect as I am this makes me a much more agreeable person than before!) I have become and am still becoming a new creature destined to live a higher law, with standards to uphold and accountability to my choices. I'm no longer ruled by my head but I'm ruled by my heart and the things the Spirit whispers to me. I much prefer the creature I am now, and I can say with impunity, despite any challenges I have faced, face and will face, I am a much happier person. 

Tomorrow's Reading (Day 132) - Mosiah 28:1-20 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? How can knowledge be a blessing?

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Swiss Roll, or Jelly Roll as it is also called.  Yummy!

I  hope you have a beautiful Wednesday!  Don't forget along the way of your day!

    

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And I do too!