Charity Never Faileth

 

“Charity Never Faileth” stems from the first Relief Society meeting. The sisters were asked by the Prophet Joseph Smith to assist the brethren “in looking to the wants of the poor—searching after objects of charity, and in administering to their wants.” The sisters took this call to heart and became a society devoted to seeking out the poor and needy.

For the last two weeks, I have been poor in spirit and pretty needy as well. I have longed for something to help me kick this long-lasting bronchitis thing that I have.  I am on my second round of antibiotics, eight different allergy/cold/cough remedies, and various ice cream bars & juices. I have not felt this sick since… mono? the flu? walking pneumonia? I honestly can’t remember.

For several days (or probably even a week) my 11-year-old son Ryan helped me do everything necessary throughout the day. He brought me drinks & Tylenol & made me lunch & took care of his younger brother. I was too sick to get off the couch to make (or even think about) dinner. After working from 4 a.m.-6 p.m.  Scott was hungry & not thinking about dinner either. We ate some good fast food & I was a regular at Bruesters for their Italian ice. I should have had some meals in the freezer that were easy to pull out & prepare in the crock pot but I didn’t. (Good preparedness thought though.) Honestly, I didn’t ever say to anyone, “Could you please bring me dinner?” because if I would have, they would have. I just couldn’t even think straight. (And a few people even asked and I said no.)

Today, my long-time friend Mimi called to tell me about a mutual friend that she had met & enjoyed talking with. She told me that I sounded awful & then said, “I’m bringing you some of Dr. Morse’s garlic chicken noodle soup!” She showed up this afternoon with chicken noodle soup, rolls, orange juice, a bouquet of roses, and a heart full of love. She immediately sat me down & made me eat soup & then said, “I think I’ll just clean up your kitchen for you.” (We had a YSA party here tonight… and the house hadn’t been picked up in two weeks… and we were on a deadline …and I was in no condition to do it myself.) She totally cleaned my kitchen (better than I could ever do). She tenderly ministered to my long-sick-and-sad heart. She blessed me beyond measure. I just kept hugging her & sobbing. I could not find the right words to express just how thankful I was.

I call this the Julie Jacobsen principle. When we lived in Washington state, we moved from Renton to Maple Valley (20” away). The house that we bought had a few issues – divorced single guy who had dogs & berber carpet & loved the colors blue & grey. Julie & her husband Mike invited us to come & live at their house for 3-4 days. She fed us breakfast & dinner. She kept Christopher (4-1/2) all day for days. She let her husband Mike work late into the night helping Scott to rip out the carpet & paint the entire house before the carpet installers arrived. Julie once said to another friend that when she served, instead of thinking, “Is this enough?” She said that she tried to think, “Have I done everything that I could?” 

I am so blessed to be surrounded by good people…

• who give my kids rides to school
• who bring my kids home from baseball practice
• who check in on me every single day
• who keep my kids extra long at the pool so I can take a nap in a quiet house
• and many more things which I have undoubtedly forgotten to mention but for which I am eternally grateful.

Thank you. I am inspired.

I am feeling better & hope to continue to do so. I hope that I can have a more giving heart. I hope that I can be more prayerful, more faithful, more able to give Heavenly Father the opportunity to bless me. I hope that I can be an instrument in ministering to others.