Of Such is the Kingdom of God

Have you ever had one of those days when you just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep off the stresses and exhaustion of the preceding hours?

A few weeks ago, I had one of those days.
And playing the tired, pregnant mommy card, I did just exactly that.

So very tired, and so very worn down, I climbed under my covers much earlier than normal.
Fighting a bad cold, tending to the affairs of the day, and taking care of three ailing children had simply run me into the ground physically and emotionally.

Dishes were piled in the sink, and my living room was positively smothered by mountains of unfolded laundry.  It felt as though I would never be able to catch up on all the mundane chores I had to do, much less anything else.

I wanted to lay down and sleep until the world seemed right again.
As it happened, however, my brief moment of rest was interrupted by a small voice at my bedroom door.

"Mom?"

I rolled over reluctantly, to Taylor's searching gaze.  Bryson stood behind him, grinning ear to ear.

Yes?

"Come with me, I have something to show you."

Seeing Bryson's encouraging nod, I decided I had better get over myself and go see what it was that Taylor had to show me.  Taking my hand in his own little one, he led me into the living room.  At first, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be looking at.  Then it became crystal clear.  With tears in my eyes, I saw that my little boy had meticulously sorted and folded all the laundry all on his own-- in his very best, albeit rumpled six-year-old way. 

As I hugged him close and let my emotions tumble loose, I told him how grateful I was to him and how special his act of service was to me.  To my complete surprise, I saw that Taylor was in tears as well.

"I knew you weren't feeling well, so I wanted to do something to help you...  Oh, Mom," he exclaimed, "I just love you so much!" 

Over the past couple of months I have reflected on his little gift to me in a moment of difficulty often.

Taylor didn't need an assignment or some other reason to feel compelled to help.  He simply saw a need and acted out of love.

Speaking of our Savior, Elder José L. Alonso of the Seventy has remarked:

His was a life of service.  When we serve our neighbor, we help those in need.  In the process we may find solutions to our own difficulties.  As we emulate the Savior, we show our love to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and we become more like Them.

King Benjamin spoke of the value of service, saying that when we are "in the service of [our] fellow beings [we] are only in the service of [our] God."  (See Mosiah 2:17) Everyone has opportunities to give service and show love.

Each day we have the opportunity to give help and service-- doing the right thing at the right time, without delay. 
("Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time without Delay," Oct. 2011 Conference Report)

One of my favorite examples of service found in the Book of Mormon takes place when the Savior appears to the people of Bountiful after His resurrection.  Elder Alonso also refers to this event in his address, explaining that through His actions, the Savior gave us a wonderful example about not waiting to lend service to others when a need is evident:

Having taught the people, [the Savior] saw that they were unable to understand all His words.  He invited them to go to their homes and ponder the things that He had said to them.  He told them to pray to the Father and prepare themselves to come again on the morrow, when He would return to teach them.  

As He concluded, He looked upon the multitude and saw them weeping, for they longed for Him to stay with them.

"And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion toward you.

"Have ye any that are sick among you?  Bring them hither.  Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt... or that are afflicted in any manner?  Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion on you; my bowels are filled with mercy." (see 3 Ne. 17)

And they brought their sick to Him, and He healed them.  The multitude bowed down at His feet and worshiped Him and kissed His feet, "insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears."  Then he commanded them that their little children should be brought, and He blessed them one by one.  That is the model the Savior has given us.  His love is for all, but He never loses sight of the one.   

Jesus never does things out of obligation.  He serves because He loves, pure and simple.  He doesn't do the bare minimum, just so He can feel good about His token effort.  He sees a need and is moved to fill that need because of His innate compassion for us all. 

I stand in amazement when I consider His singular example to us all.

An example that my six-year-old boy reminded me of through his small act of love, freely given with all the compassion in his little heart.

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