Service

Service

It is interesting to me, that the best cure to a broken heart, to sadness, is to forget one’s self in the service of others.  Yet, this is the exact opposite of the natural reaction.  Our natural reaction when we feel hurt or down is to focus on our own problems.  It becomes a self-perpetuating cycle because, as we focus more on our own problems, we fall deeper into despair and self-pity, which in turn leads to being even more wrapped up in our own problems.

Many times, we just want someone to put their arm around us and sincerely as us how we are doing.  We just want someone to succor us in our need.

Sometimes, people belittle our problems saying things like, “your problems aren’t that bad, there are other people that are have problems that are much worse than yours.”  I don’t think that people are usually trying to hurt us or make us feel even worse, though I think that is usually the result.  What we are looking for is the exact opposite of what they are doing for us.  They often don’t realize that they could make such a difference by just taking a moment to sincerely care about us, rather than to brush our problems aside.  And at some point in time, I daresay that all of us have been on both sides of the situation – we have all wished for someone to care about us and have also been the one missing the opportunity to care about someone else.

The irony of the situation is that the best way for us to receive the help that we so desperately desire, is to take the time to give that help to someone else.  President Hinckley once said that the best sure for a broken heart is to lose yourself in the service of others.  He was right.

I can think back on times of great difficulty in my life, and I realize that when I forgot about my problems and went to the aid of others, that my wounds were also healed.  As you are the Lord’s hands to help and lift others, He also helps and lifts you.  When you are on the Lord’s errand, He is on yours.

So when you are down, look for the opportunity to help others.  Take the time to ask the Lord to help lose yourself in the service of others.  Before long, you will discover that you are happy.  It doesn’t mean that your problems are gone.  They usually aren’t.  But you will have the strength of the Lord to overcome, and you will have His joy in your heart because you will  know that you are helping in a greater cause.