Today I had 4 extra children at my house. Two belonged to one friend, the other two to another. Two of the children were off track and their mom was working. The other two belonged to a friend who at the last minute needed someone to watch them while she went to a doctor's appointment. The scheduled babysitter had a sick child and had to cancel. Fortunately I checked my phone pretty early and was able to let both friends know that the children could come over to my house.
I love being able to help out friends and ward members. The LDS Church's women's auxiliary, the Relief Society, has as part of its mandate to provide relief. One of the most common ways this is done is providing meals to families. It may be after a funeral, after the birth of a baby, after a surgery, or other times when the mother's attention is better focused elsewhere.
Sunday evening I took a meal over to a family whose mother had just had surgery. Tomorrow I will take a meal over to another sister who fell and broke her arm. Not too long ago, I took a meal to a family that had just had a baby.
It is true that it is extra work because I am making two meals at the same time. I don't always just make double of whatever I am making for my family because when I take a meal to a family, I like to be able to take as few dishes as possible. I also like to take meals that are relatively simple so that all family members can enjoy it and also just to keep things as uncomplicated as possible.
The feelings I have after delivering one of these meals are really uplifting. No matter what kind of day I've had, I feel much better about life. Same thing happens when I am able to help out a family with their children, as happened today. Those are the two most common acts of service I am asked to provide--meals or childcare. That's OK. I love to cook and to share what I make with people, even if it's only my own family. I love children and when I have children over, they play with mine and keep them busy. I actually have very productive days even with a house full of children because they all play together and keep each other busy, which allows me to focus on things I need to do. Yes, the house looks like a toy factory blew up but we have a system of toy organization that makes it really easy for us all to work together to clean up toys.
"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God". (Mosiah 2:17).
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