Charity- The Pure Love of Christ

When reading this blog I ask you to accept me, as I do you; be open to my thoughts and feelings, as I am to yours; and to allow me the freedom of worship, as I do you.

Today I was asked to give a talk in church, something I have not done for quite sometime and although I travel across Canada speaking to large groups- this opportunity felt daunting and incredibly overwhelming. The title I was asked to speak on was 'Helping Those in Need', something we are each faced with on a regular basis.

In a world full of trials, tribulations, heart-aches and sorrow it is critical we draw nearer to our maker and focus our lives on His will. Everyday we read of stories within our social networks, news, or emails of those in need- and every day we too feel overwhelmed by what is on our own plate. Something we either embace or shun given the day, challenge, or fear. However, today I felt as though I needed to give this title more thought than I have in the past. I truly wanted to know why it is so important for us as humans to learn how to serve our fellow men throughout the year and not just at Christmas time.

How does one identify where to start and What to do?

How do we prioritize the realities of our lives and those in need around us?

How do we find the faith necessary to be a source of strength to others?

As a result of asking these questions I found a myriad of answers, which guided my thoughts to 3 gifts we receive as we serve. Recognizing there is no simple recipe for charitable service, except that of righteous diligence. Let's proceed to my findings.

1. First, we need to have an open and willing heart.
2. Second, we need to take care of our needs and the needs of our family so we are in a place to give freely and healthfully.
3. Identify our talents so we can be aware of ways in which we can serve others.
4. We need to reframe our perspective and/or judgement in order tosee the need and remove the barriers.
5. We need to pray for guidance and a loving heart, so we will be able to act when called upon.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf shares a perfect example of Charity in its purest form as he explains Jesus Christ's ministry in this excerpt from his talk entitled 'You Are My Hands":

"We Are the Hands of Christ...When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation. That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today... As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart."

What a perfect example of hope, we too can be His hands here on earth. Remembering, we are

Sons and Daughters of God, designed after Him, we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience- our success lies in our ability to align our hearts and spirits to His will. Now this statement may overwhelming if you have not yet identified yourself as a child of God; however, consider for one moment where you came from and where you are going. As our noble birthright provides us with a gift of life eternal, we need to embrace what that means and our role in preparing to one day return to live with our Father in Heaven.

Gift #1: Christ's Love

There is little as amazing as feeling the pure love of Christ, when we serve we are blessed with His love for us and others. Think back to a time when the joy in your heart was full, when you felt a love so pure and happy it was almost palatable. What were you doing? Why were you experiencing this feeling?

The times in my life in which I have felt such outstanding joy came to me as a result of being the Lord's hands for another. Often, it wasn't more than a phone call or conversation or lending a hand in a move; but, the joy far out weighed any sacrifice I ever made. If only I cou

ld find a way to bottle this feeling:)

Gift #2: Heavenly Vision

Our Father in Heaven wants us to identify service as an act of LOVE not a SACRIFICE- when we learn to love our fellowmen like He loves us-only then will we see others through His eyes. Fully comprehending the magnitude of that soul, his or her purpose, passion and mission. We will be blessed to see others as He does- as His children. When we serve others, we naturally grow to love them- try it!

I have had this experience on multiple occasions, where I have been serving a friend or neighbour and I see them differently, in fact I see them like I had never before seen them. Generally, this has happened to me when I didn't know the person well or when I found them difficult to like or even love prior to the act of service. It is amazing to me that, our eyes can see something so remarkable when we are serving a soul. I know this is a heavenly gift we can all receive.

Gift #3: Softening of Hearts

When we serve willingly with Christ's love we are blessed with the gift to soften hearts. This is a gift that can change the direction of another's life and in turn bring the greatest love possible to a soul. I would have to say this is one of the most treasurable of all gifts that comes from service, as it not only softens the heart of the receiver; but, magnifies your own heart and has the power to heal pain and suffering for generations. When you are blessed to be the Lord’s hands in softening a heart, you are also blessed to see the transformation right before your eyes- it is a gift that you will treasure for a lifetime.

This happens more than we know... it happens when we take the time to understand another; when we give patience instead of frustation; when we say YES instead of NO; when we forgive instead of with hold. If we could merely take more time in our days to ask ourselves as the Christian motto says- What Would Jesus Do?- we would be makers of a new world full of hope, love, peace and happiness. We would seed faith, nourish individual worth, and harvest the GREATEST LOVE OF ALL, just as the song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and sung by the late and stunning Whitney Houston shares: we must learn to love ourselves so we can truly love another. The greatest LOVE comes from within- we are children of a loving Heavenly Father who wants each of us to know what it feels like to love and be loved.

In conclusion, I want to leave you with a thought from Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints who said: “We will discover that those whom we serve, who have felt through our labors the touch of the Master’s hand, somehow cannot explain the change which comes into their lives. There is a desire to serve faithfully, to walk humbly, and to live more like the Savior. Having received their spiritual eyesight and glimpsed the promises of eternity, they echo the words of the blind man to whom Jesus restored sight, who said, ‘One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

I want my life's legacy to reflect the image of my Savior Jesus Christ in all I do. I want to live my days with an open and willing heart, ready to serve when called upon. We are all Sons and Daughters of God, here on earth with a multitude of different purposes. Our journey is in identifying what we individually were sent here to do.

Here's to finding ways to be Charitable in its Purest Form and not waiting for Christmas to share random acts of service and love.