Share Yourself
An experience today made me think a little harder about this topic. Often times we think of sharing ourselves as acts of service. If we go out and help someone move, lay sod, clean a yard, or fix a car, we are sharing ourselves. There a great many more ways we can share ourselves in a similar fashion.
However, I was reminded today that we share ourselves in other ways. Sometimes ways that we do not think about. What we share is the Spirit or influence of that Spirit that has been opened on our lives. We share it most of the time with out even realizing that we are sharing it.
I have a neighbor who does not share my beliefs. Yet we are similar in many ways. He is a great husband and father, even to children that are not biologically his. He is a hard worker. If you ask, he will be there to help at the drop of a hat. He is a great neighbor.
So where do we differ? In the way we raise and teach our children, our spiritual beliefs, and more. Just because we differ does not mean we are opposites.
This evening I had the opportunity to just visit will him. We live next door, but don't always just sit down and visit. Most of the time our interaction is just a wave of the hand or a nod of the head. But today, I stopped.
We talked about his new job, his children, his yard, his pets, and then some about mine. Because our beliefs are different, he caught me completely off guard when he asked me if my oldest son was going on a mission. He wanted to know how close he was to the young lady that was hanging around and if that would affect his call to a mission. He seemed concerned.
We talked about it a little. I explained that it was the goal and intention of both my son and his lady friend that he would serve a mission. And though he does not fully understand the calling to serve, he expressed his concern and advice because he cared about what we believed in.
We have never really had discussions about our beliefs before, yet the influence of the spirit was touching him as we share ourselves as neighbors. We share ourselves by the way we live. It radiates from us. People see it, recognize it, and see the joy it can bring to one's life. It is that influence and sharing that motivates them to care about helping us and those we love achieve the righteous desires of our hearts.
Think about all the different ways that you share yourself. Then think some more. I promise you that you may never fully understand all the powerful ways you can and are sharing yourself for the good and the bad, without even knowing it. It is a lot to think about.
Know Yourself Control Yourself Share Yourself
However, I was reminded today that we share ourselves in other ways. Sometimes ways that we do not think about. What we share is the Spirit or influence of that Spirit that has been opened on our lives. We share it most of the time with out even realizing that we are sharing it.
I have a neighbor who does not share my beliefs. Yet we are similar in many ways. He is a great husband and father, even to children that are not biologically his. He is a hard worker. If you ask, he will be there to help at the drop of a hat. He is a great neighbor.
So where do we differ? In the way we raise and teach our children, our spiritual beliefs, and more. Just because we differ does not mean we are opposites.
This evening I had the opportunity to just visit will him. We live next door, but don't always just sit down and visit. Most of the time our interaction is just a wave of the hand or a nod of the head. But today, I stopped.
We talked about his new job, his children, his yard, his pets, and then some about mine. Because our beliefs are different, he caught me completely off guard when he asked me if my oldest son was going on a mission. He wanted to know how close he was to the young lady that was hanging around and if that would affect his call to a mission. He seemed concerned.
We talked about it a little. I explained that it was the goal and intention of both my son and his lady friend that he would serve a mission. And though he does not fully understand the calling to serve, he expressed his concern and advice because he cared about what we believed in.
We have never really had discussions about our beliefs before, yet the influence of the spirit was touching him as we share ourselves as neighbors. We share ourselves by the way we live. It radiates from us. People see it, recognize it, and see the joy it can bring to one's life. It is that influence and sharing that motivates them to care about helping us and those we love achieve the righteous desires of our hearts.
Think about all the different ways that you share yourself. Then think some more. I promise you that you may never fully understand all the powerful ways you can and are sharing yourself for the good and the bad, without even knowing it. It is a lot to think about.
Know Yourself Control Yourself Share Yourself
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