The Lord’s Storehouse is Within Us
I never cease to marvel at how amazing visiting teaching can be. I rarely (if ever) feel like going, but always end up feeling uplifted, strengthened, fed.
This month, the lesson is on being an instrument in God’s hands by helping the poor and the needy. I must confess that I have a sort of gut reaction to this topic — not because I don’t care about helping the poor and the needy, but because sometimes I care too much. I can so easily feel overwhelmed, because I don’t have the spare cash I would like to have and because there is always so much need. Sometimes my heart can’t handle the pain that people are constantly in. I’m grateful for church funds that help many in such effective ways, but still, there is always more to be done.
With my sisters, I talked about this feeling of despair that sometimes creeps in. But the lesson came to my rescue; it broadened my view of what it means to help the poor and the needy. I love the scripture in Mosiah 4:26, that talks about administering to relief temporally and spiritually. Clearly, we can be poor and needy in more than just food and money or other temporal ways. A quote by Elder Eyring reminded us that even in visiting and home teaching, we are doing what Christ would do. We ought not look at those roles as extra jobs, but as opportunities for service. (And, I’m constantly reminded, the Lord gives me so much even as I try to serve in that small way.)
The quote that hit me the most, though, was the one from Sister Parkin. She said:
The Lord’s Storehouse—where ‘there is enough and to spare’—is [symbolically] what the Lord has placed in each of us (D&C 104:17). It is one woman making a difference for another. It is one sister offering to listen or talk with a sister who may be lonely. It is a sister developing a close friendship with the sister she visit teaches. It is you and me with our strengths, our skills, and our talents blessing the life of another” (“Welfare, the Crowning Principle of a Christian Life,” BYU Women’s Conference, May 1, 2003, 3).
This perspective encouraged me. I don’t have to save a country of starving children (as much as I would like to). I’m grateful there are ways to help with such needs (such as through donations to the Church’s humanitarian fund or to other humanitarian organizations). But I can also be an instrument in helping the poor and the needy around me, through small, simple ways. I can listen. I can smile. I can give a hug. I can be a friend. The Lord has given me the ability to love, and that is part of the storehouse that can help His people in times of need.
April 28th, 2007 09:30
I think the idea of giving what we can in small ways is very important. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by others’ suffering I become immobillized by those feelings. When there is so much to do to help others it’s important to remember that every little bit helps and doing something is much better than feeling bad about the situation and yet doing nothing.
April 28th, 2007 17:32
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who sometimes can feel overwhelmed!
Thanks for your comment, Kirsti.
April 29th, 2007 08:19
I have also gone through the “overwhelmed by others’ suffering” experience–repeatedly. And each time I am finally calmed by the knowledge that I must not lose sight of an eternal perspective, and (as this lesson brought out so beautifully) I need to focus on the daily opportunities to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands to relieve some of that suffering.
I have found it fairly easy to share material goods (a meal for an ailing sister, a handout for a beggar on the street, a check to Humanitarian Services, a donation of used clothing to Deseret Industries, etc.).
But, being reserved by nature, my challenge has been more in learning to open my mind and heart to notice the needs of others. I need to be better at recognizing and acting on promptings to call, visit or email someone who may appreciate knowing I am thinking of them, and wondering how they are doing. I tend to put off acting, thinking that I might be intruding, or bothering busy people. I am coming to believe that some of those restraining, negative thoughts might actually be “temptations” to keep me from opportunities to be an answer to someone’s prayer.
Thanks for this post, Michelle. It has motivated me to re-examine my daily life, and to find simple ways of effectively showing the love and concern I feel to those who come into my circle of influence.
April 29th, 2007 22:29
RoAnn,
What a poignant comment…to realize that sometimes it can be easier to do something quick and temporal, something that doesn’t really require risk or a personal connection and effort. The healing and help that can come to a human heart when we take the time to love really is something to ponder. Thank you for helping me think even more deeply about this principle!
April 30th, 2007 16:30
I appreciate your post, Michelle, and the comments, too. I think RoAnn and I must have been twins in the pre-mortal existance–I find myself relating to everything she writes! I know that this is something I need to find balance in, and do more than I do. Thanks, all of you, for sharing you insights about this.
May 3rd, 2007 07:41
Gosh Michelle,what a timely post! I often get myself into trouble by helping out others… yes we don’t have extra money laying around to help others out at all times and I often feel horrible whenever I see some beggar standing on the corner of the freeway. I always wave at them and smile even if I don’t have anything to give. I know often that I have looked away and pretended I didn’t see them to ease my own feeling of guilt for having nothing to give. And I have found that honestly it IS the simple things that matter… that smile probably meant a lot to them instead of people turning their heads and ignoring them! Often I will pray at that time that the Lord will help this person and that I am sorry but I would help them if I could. {I take comfort in a scripture that talks about how we should say in our hearts that we would give if we had something to give.} It still is hard… and often I have been known to spend lots of money buying those beggars on the street and even friends in need new clothes, food, gloves, a new coat, and gift certificates to a store all when we are about out of money. I sometimes can’t help it and feel so horrible and helpless for those people. On American Idol last week they had a special show that they were trying to raise money for the poor in Africa and in our own country. I wanted to call in and offer some money as the stories they showed were heartbreaking and left me in tears. I felt like I should help and do something. But we were waiting for our paycheck still, with an offer on our house and our loan in the process of getting approved so we would have a place to live in a month, and I knew we couldn’t give anything… not even a dollar. I had to turn off the show because I felt so horrible. Instead I said a prayer that those children in Africa who are motherless and dying of AIDS will get the help that they need. The show raise 70 million dollars. I hope that they truly use that money to help those children.
May 3rd, 2007 09:29
This is hard for me. True, but hard. I have trouble giving my heart - making connections with people.
In fact, “trouble” is an understatement.
May 3rd, 2007 11:47
Mary,
RoAnn is great, isn’t she? Thanks for your comment.
Stephanie,
Don’t forget all you DO and CAN do just with small gestures like you mentioned.
SilverRain,
)
Have you ever read the book A Heart Like His? It’s an interesting read on this very topic…a sort of tangible, how-to book to help us open our hearts more. I found it really profound in its simplicity, and really do-able.
(I am having a hard time imaging that you have a hard time with this, though…your heart seems open online at least.