Forget yourself and go to work.

We have been reading Way to Be by Gordon B. Hinckley for family home evenings the past little while. Each week we have focused on a new BE. This past week was Be Humble.

Gordon B. Hinckley served his mission in England during the great depression, and it was a sacrifice for his whole family for him to be able to go.  He wrote about how there were few people who were interested in talking about religion. There were doors slammed in their faces, dogs running after them, barking at them.  He was also very miserable with hay fever.

He wrote a letter to his father after a short time being in England saying,  he was wasting his father's money and his time, and that he ought to come home rather then stay the two years.

All his Father wrote back was "Dear Gordon, I have your letter of such and such date . I have only one suggestion--- Forget yourself and go to work."

He explained that about the same day he had read his fathers letter he had also read the verse in the New Testament "He that findeth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" -Matthew 10:39

He said he made a resolution after his fathers letter and reading that scripture that changed his attitude and outlook on life. He said he could trace everything good that had happened to him in his life back to that singular decision to forget himself and go to work. 

I know I  have had plenty of selfish days... I know the times I am the most miserable are the times that I am only thinking of myself and my problems. On some of my roughest mothering days,  When I have had sick kiddos and a messy house, or the days when I have been discouraged and life and responsibility seem super heavy... when I wonder, "Am I good enough? Can I even handle it."  I have decided I am going to pray for strength to forget myself and go to work.

I can honestly say the days where I have done this so far I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life the most. I have felt strengthened to be able to do the work that is needed to be done much better then I thought I would be able to. It's those days that I have realized that its not about me. Its about those around me. These little children that need me, and all the people around me who might need my help.

I can't say that everyday I am perfect at forgetting myself and going to work. It will probably take a lifetime trying to overcome selfish habits, But It is a resolution of mine to strive harder each day to remember like Gordon B. Hinckley says,  to Be Humble and "Forget yourself and go to work. "

 

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."