Have I Done Any Good?

When Teagan and Micheal were visiting us in Oregon, Teagan and I were getting groceries at Winco. If you don't know Winco, you need to know that you bag your own groceries there. Anyway, Teagan and I had just finished bagging our cart full of groceries and saw that behind us was an older man in one of those wheelchair carts. He was having a hard time getting his groceries onto the belt. Teagan and I looked at one another and without hesitation, we helped him put his groceries on the belt to be scanned. I then went to the bagging area and bagged them for him. The look on the man's face was unforgettable. He was nearly in tears and could hardly say the words, THANK YOU. The checker behind the counter looked at Teag and I and said, "Wow, that sure was nice of you. Really really nice!" Both Teag and and I didn't think that such a simple thing would get such a reaction, but it did. As we walked out of the store, Teagan looked at me and said, "That felt pretty good..." Yah, it did!

I was reminded of this story today in Relief Society as we sang the song, "Have I Done Any Good." I haven't sang that song in quite some time and had forgotten how much I liked it. It is definitely one of those Church Hymns that you know by heart and I think the reason for that is because of it's simplicity paired with it's importance. I love how simple the words are and how straight-forward the message is, and I truly believe it holds such an important lesson for a true Christian to follow. That we have a duty to help those in need, to cheer up the sad and make others feel glad.

Please know that I don't tell the story of mine and Teagan's opportunity to help the old gentlemen at Winco to sound boastful or to brag. I only write it as a reminder to ME that serving can be such a small act, but mean so very much. That the lesson can be learned on both sides. I know that those simple acts of kindness and "good" have meant so much to me these past couple of months and I am truly grateful that I am surrounded by such thoughtful people.

Today was definitely a reminder for me to watch more for those opportunities to serve, large or small, grandiose or simple. To always DO GOOD to those around me each and every day.