Stranger Danger

Strangers impress me so often. 

Many times, it is through a stranger that I see a Divine Signature in my life. This almost makes them more special, because it is just a witness that my Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need, when I need it, and cares enough about me to prompt others to go out of their way in order to serve me. 

Whenever a random person makes my day, I just am reminded that I want to be that way; I want to be an instrument in God's hand and be worthy to receive promptings to help His children. This reminder in itself is a Divine Signature!

Recently, I was over at my friend's apartment down the road a bit. Around midnight, she walked me halfway home and then I continued on my way by myself. If you know me, you know I usually keep a rape whistle in my purse. Very prepared, I know. Suddenly, I noticed a car slowing down next to me...I instantly clutched my whistle, kept looking strait ahead, and walked faster. 
Then I heard the sweetest voice, probably a young woman somewhere in her 20's, say, "Excuse me!"  I turned and looked at her. She continued, "I know this is weird, and I promise I'm not a creeper, but do you want a ride home?" I replied cautiously, "Oh no, I'm fine! I'm just up the hill, and I have my rape whistle with me just in case." (Pulling it out as evidence while I'm talking. Usually people laugh at me for this, she didn't. But hey-you never know when it might come in handy!) 

She looked so concerned, and replied that she is easily paranoid, was paranoid for me, and if she was walking home alone, she would want a girl to offer her a ride. I could tell by her sweet voice and personality that she was genuinely trying to help, so I told her that would actually make me feel a lot better and thanked her for being kind and going out of her way to offer a stranger a ride. 

This may seem so insignificant, but it's not to me. It got me thinking, "What can I do, as weird as it may seem, to help another?" There are so many forms of service, so many opportunities all around us. It's amazing that we can listen to the Spirit and become an instrument in God's hand to help others receive a Divine Signature they may be needing. 

Walmart.

You may be wondering why this post is title "Walmart" ...yeah. It'll make sense in a minute, hopefully :)

This holiday season has been the best-beautiful, busy, blissful, and blessed (I hope you appreciatively noted my use of alliteration, k thanks). However, the holidays seem to magnify the feeling that there is so much to do, and so little time. But this has always been a problem and always will be! As I've looked, I've noticed so many Divine Signatures this season. One particular instance occurred at- Walmart -you guessed it!

I was last minute Christmas shopping. I was a little tired and stressed, and then a lady stuck out her hand and grabbed my cart to stop me. Huh? She looked at me and said, "Can I just stop you for a second and tell you what I thought when I saw you?" This is where I got nervous, wondering what I had done wrong and if this lady was crazy, and worried for what she was going to say next. I said of course that would be fine, to which she so kindly gave me such a sweet compliment that meant a lot to me.

This happened at Walmart!

I was a little taken aback, but so thankful for this woman's courage, thoughtfulness, and kindness. Over the past few days, my mind has continued to linger on this Divine Signature.

This woman went out of her way to tell me something she thought would make my day. It really hit me- am I treating others the way I would want to be treated? We hear this ALL the time, from when we are little children. But think about it. 

• Do you like getting compliments? 
• Do you like getting random kind little texts from your dear friends? 
• Do you like when someone helps you with something you're working on?
• Do you like it when someone smiles at you and treats you well?
• Do you like it when others give you the benefit of the doubt? 

These are just some of the simple things I could think of. But if we like these things, odds are that so do others. So why not stop some random stranger in Walmart and give them a compliment? The smallest acts of service can make a difference.

"We live in deeds, not years, in thoughts, not breaths, in feelings, not figures on a dial and we really should count times, by heart throbs."

-Elder Maxwell, A More Excellent Way

So. "Don't wait for happiness, seek it out." 

     -Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Ha. 

Learning Through Service

This blog post is coming from my homework...

What? Did I just say homework? YES.
 

In my Learning Through Service class (which I highly recommend), we were assigned to creatively present our philosophy of service and how it has changed throughout the duration of the class. I decided to make a Thought book containing my favorite quotes, thoughts, and service experiences as I have been learning. It's nothing fancy or anything, but as I was making it, my thoughts turned to Christ. 
     Among the many things I have learned concerning service, it all ties back to Christ. Christ is the ultimate example, as He serves perfectly. We serve to become like Christ, right? Right. But honestly, all we can do is learn through service and, as President Gordon B. Hinckley so beautifully stated, "Try a little harder to be a little better"(https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/we-have-a-work-to-do?lang=eng).
   If our goal is to become like Him, what better way than by following His example of service? I'm so grateful for the insights I've had from this class and for all I was taught. The things I've learned have become Divine Signatures in my daily life! So I'd like to share a few of my favorite parts from my Thought book to sum up what I've learned for you, wahoo!

• "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."
  -D&C 4:2
• The Savior is perfect at serving in all four ways. As we consistently try to be better, we can become better at serving with our heart, might, mind, and strength.
• As we pursue our dreams and reach our potential, we are more able to help others and change the world. Education is important, everyone!
• "Without Thomas Edison we would have no light bulbs, recorded music, or hundreds of other inventions. Yet his goal was not to sacrifice for others, but to pursue and prove his passionately held ideas, no matter what others wanted of him. Do we really wish that he had dedicated himself to "citizen service," perhaps by collecting donations to buy candles for the poor?"-David Harriman, "Public Service and Private Misery"
• "Real charity is not something you give away; It is something that you acquire and make part of yourself...Charity is expecting the best of each other."
  -Marvin J. Ashton
• "One sees in Peter an individual who used his chances to learn, to grow, and to follow by faith in great adventures that otherwise he would never have undertaken."
  -Elder Maxwell, "A More Excellent Way" 
• Sacrifice: To make it to the Lord. To give something up to the Lord.
• Elder Oaks, "Why Do We Serve?"
• Earthly Reward
• Good Companionship
• Fear of Punishment
• Duty
• Hope of an Eternal Reward
• CHARITY
• "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass."
  -Alma 37:6
• "If you focus on deficiencies, you aren't helping one bit."
  -Bill Hulterstrom, President and CEO of United Way of Utah County
• "In serving others you will find yourself."
  -President Spencer W. Kimball 

Have a great week! :)

Love,
Rebecca Sharlene