Do Unto Others

 

Last week as I wrapped a birthday present to mail to my son, I packed some hometown newspaper around it for padding. In it I found a couple of articles that touched my heart. In one, a homeless veteran gave his last twenty dollars to a woman who was stranded with not enough money to pay for her gas. He didn’t expect to have it returned or to be rewarded, he just wanted to help her. In the other, a woman found a bargain for down jackets in a neighboring town and bought one for each of her family members as their old ones had been used for many years. She said she spent hundreds of dollars but had saved a thousand  dollars . When she returned   home, she hid them in the back of the closet to save for Christmas and went out to finish her errands When she returned home again.  she found the living-rom a mess and things pulled out of the closet.
The   new coats were gone. When her son came home, he told her that there was a call out for coats and hats for the fire fighters, fighting a local forest fire. He had gone through the closet and taken the coats to donate them. “But don’t worry Mom!” He said. “I kept the good ones”

As a mother, I’m torn between being grateful for the son’s kindness And fury for giving away the new coats.

“We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness,” said President Thomas S. Monson. “We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “A great change began in your heart when you came into the Church. You made a covenant, and you received a promise that began changing your very nature. …

“… You promised that you would help the Lord make [others’] burdens light and be comforted. You were given the power to help lighten those loads when you received the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

“We want to use the light of the gospel to see others as the Savior does—with compassion, hope, and charity,” said Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President. “The day will come when we will have a complete understanding of others’ hearts and will be grateful to have mercy extended to us—just as we extend charitable thoughts and words to others. …

“Our obligation and privilege is to embrace improvement in everyone as we strive to become more like our Savior.” 

As you enjoy this season, keep the “Light Of The World” in your hearts towards your fellow man.