5/5/19

Today during Sacrament meeting there were several releases and sustainings.   I'm not sure why it struck me today, but I actually got pretty emotional as the names were being read.  I thought about each of these individuals.  Some who have served diligently and faithfully.  Their impact and example has been felt and seen.  There are being released either to move into new callings or because they are moving out of our ward.  Then I thought of all those being called to callings.  For some of them, I know the calling is out of their comfort zone, they may feel inadequate or wonder, why me?  Yet, they accept the call to serve and have faith that they will be sustained and able to fulfill the calling.  I then thought about each of us that play a role in building God's kingdom.  We do in different ways through different callings throughout our life.  Some of these callings seem like a more natural fit and others definitely stretch us and we don't know how we will or if we can do it.  I know I have definitely felt this with callings I have received in the past.  Yet, the Lord lifts us and helps us become more than we can on our own if we allow him.  There was a testimony born today by Brother Bleak.  He is currently serving in nursery, but was just called into the Sunday School Presidency.  He could be placed in probably any calling and rise to the occasion.  During his testimony he told of an experience he had with one of the nursery children.  She is deaf and communicates through sign language.  She kept trying to tell him something during nursery, but he didn't know what she was signing.  After nursery, Bro. Bleak asked her parents and they told him it was the sign for Jesus.  I was so touched by this story.  Not only because of the sweetness of this little girl, Kate Price, and the fact that she is being taught by her parents, but also because Bill was able to be a part of this experience because of the calling that he has.  This is how it goes with callings.  If we look for the blessing of a calling and seek for the good in it, we will find it.  Each calling we are given can bring us joy, even those callings that seem out of our comfort zone.  I am so grateful for this church.  I am grateful for the opportunities we are given to serve that help us become more like our Savior as we learn to serve as he did.