Service

Tonight I did something a lot more meaningful than anything I've done for a while. I participated in the "Adopt-a-grandparent" program through the University. Early on this semester I decided I wanted to do this. I've actually wanted to do this for a while now, but my schedule has been so crazy/busy in the past. I finally decided to just make the commitment to go once a week for about an hour. Transportation is even provided. I went tonight and was in a group with 2 other girls. We knocked on some doors at the rest home. We could hear someone come up to the door at one particular place. They looked through the peep hole and didn't answer. We knocked some more and some people didn't answer. Finally, one lady let us in and we talked. I cannot tell you how much this reminded me of my mission! The feelings came flooding back. We just chatted with this lady. Such a simple thing, but it was great. We later learned that this particular lady isn't always open to visitors and often makes excuses. But, for some reason, she decided to let us in. And, she wants us to come back.

As I came home tonight, I thought about the experience. I think the reason I loved my mission so much was that I got to meet so many people, listen to what they had to say (ok, sometimes that wasn't always the funnest), and learn to love them. It wasn't about me. Service is so awesome because it's not about you. When you serve you can forget about yourself- your problems, etc. What I honestly hate about this time of life is that it is all about me. College/single life can be a very selfish time. I have a lot of time to think about my life. (Yes, there are service opportunites around me, which I do seek out, but still, ultimately, I do have to think about myself and my life a lot.)

Anyway, service is great. Although we do service to bless others' lives, I know we too are immensely blessed.