Forget Yourself

There’s a well-known story by our church’s late prophet and leader Gordan B. Hinckley. He was a young man, only about 19 or 20 years old, and living in England serving a church mission.

“It was early in his mission, and he was discouraged. The work was hard, and the people were not receptive. However, there came a time when discouragement turned to commitment. For him, the beginning was a letter from his father in which he read: “Dear Gordon, I have your letter. . . . I have only one suggestion: Forget yourself and go to work.”

In describing what happened next, he said: “I got on my knees in that little bedroom . . . and made a pledge that I would try to give myself unto the Lord. “The whole world changed. The fog lifted. The sun began to shine in my life. I had a new interest. I saw the beauty of this land. I saw the greatness of the people. . . . Everything that has happened to me since that’s been good I can trace to that decision made in that little house”

I have been thinking a lot about this story lately, whenever I get frustrated or discouraged that life and responsibilities bog me down. So when I remembered this story and the message hit me over and over.

We got some disappointing news yesterday and today. It isn't HUGE news, it isn't earth shattering its just a bit discouraging and frustrating. I know that when I'm feeling that heaviness that those words always ring loud and clear in my mind.....forget yourself and go to work.

Last night for FHE we tried to do just that. We went around to homes in our stake and picked up outgrown or broken bicylces for deserving children for Christmas. The bike shop in town is collecting and repairing bikes and Nate is helping with the project. It felt great to go around and watch the boys get involved.

Love this one. "Shut the door people! It is COLD out there!"

And here are some pictures of Parker at the shop getting some of the bikes ready!