In an earlier blog I mentioned that one of my primary reasons for regular church attendance is that I need all the help I can get. I KNOW that I’m supposed to be kind, honest, loving, fair, giving…and forgiving too. I KNOW that prayer and scripture study are musts if I am to continue my progress along the road to eternal life. However, I need occasional memory prompts to help me stay on the straight and narrow, and Sunday’s service provided just the reminders that I needed.
I attended church with my daughter who is a member of a small “branch,” and I almost chuckled when I realized that the service that day was to be the Primary program which I had already heard and seen two times this month, both in my own ward and in my son’s. Still, every unit adds a little different twist so I settled in with a positive attitude. Of all the things I heard the children sing and say, the most memorable is a line from the hymn “Love is Spoken Here.” Here it is: “I will try in all I do and say to live the gospel more each day.”
Simple but profound, huh? It’s easy to be spiritual and loving while you’re in church, but sometimes the spaces between the meetings can be a bit challenging. What I need to think about more often is that everywhere is a mission field, and everyone is a child of God. When we serve others, we serve Him.
What drove this morning lesson home was a conversation with my brother Mike on Sunday evening. He and his wife Lisa are involved with international students who attend their church, and on Sunday they had nine Chinese young people over for Sunday dinner. While talking about how much he and Lisa enjoyed the experience, he mentioned that these students were part of his “mission field.”
I wholeheartedly agree with Mike and feel that everywhere we go is a mission field. If you want to know where yours is, for starters look at your to-do list or your appointment book.
mom's musings 
Yikes! You mean I have to look at my to-do list again? I want to pretend that it doesn’t exist! Just kidding! Thanks for stopping my blog. It’s nice to meet you.
Yes, you have to look at it again…especially that item about squeezing in time for your mother. And thanks for stopping by my blog too. I’d link back to yours, but it’s not a “live” link. Just letting you know in case you want to fix that.
Very true, Marla Jayne. We may be the only Jesus some people see in this life…I think that’s from “The Purpose Driven Life” (Rick Warren).
I have seen people actually be embarrassingly grateful to be treated with dignity. That’s part of living the gospel and I can’t imagine acting another way!
Good for your brother and sis-in-law. What a testimony for those young people!
Good reminder…God Bless, as Always!
You’ve inspired me to get that book out and reread it. It’s full of reminders that “It’s not about me.”
I guess they’re young, at least compared to me. They’re mostly doctoral and post-doctorate students, and the kindest, most well-meaning, transparent people you would ever want to meet. I believe Lisa and I were placed there by God.
Think of the potential ripple effects in China if we were to influence a few of them for Christ.
Thanks for visiting the blog and commenting, Mick. Yes, yes, I always believe in the ripple effect. Toss in a little pebble, and there’s no telling where it’s influence will end, perhaps even across generations.