Finding ourselves through service

Joyce Baker is one of my heroines. I keep her picture on my piano because she loved music and she loved life, and she loved me. She began suffering from auto-immune disorders in her early fifties that left her unable to walk and in constant pain at the end of her life. Even though she was physically limited, Joyce shared love and light with her family and friends.

When I first started visiting Joyce four years ago, she told me about her jogging sessions with our mutual friend Juanita Fuller. Juanita and Joyce would go running, Juanita in her running shoes and Joyce in her automated wheelchair. For decades, Juanita had called often, and their friendship thrived, even as Joyce’s physical abilities declined.

Joyce held a chess tournament for the youth in our congregation. She nearly beat my son, who is an avid chess player. I brushed up on my modest chess skills so Joyce and I could go a few rounds. She was so encouraging that I practiced more and we both anticipated our next get-together: the “big game.” As I played games and learned from the daily tactics on chess.com, I could tell my vision of the game was improving. When I arrived at Joyce’s house, her beautiful chess set was ready for our match. We started with a laugh. I put Joyce on her guard early in the game, but she had experience and tenacity on her side. After a grueling 45 minutes, she won, although the effort wore her out.

Because she loved music, I practiced up and played a few violin pieces for Joyce. I always enjoyed our visits, and I always came away uplifted. As I would visit Joyce from time to time, her kids and grandkids would drop in for a hug and an “I love you!” Although Joyce was by then confined to a chair, her family came into her room to find her. Becoming friends with Joyce changed me forever. Was I looking out for Joyce, or was Joyce looking out for me? That’s the way love works—it touches everyone.

“I am confident there are within our sphere of influence those who are lonely, those who are ill, and those who feel discouraged. Ours is the opportunity to help them and to lift their spirits,” taught Thomas S. Monson, former president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Monson also shares this story: “A few years ago I read an article written by Jack McConnell, MD. He grew up in the hills of southwest Virginia in the United States as one of seven children of a Methodist minister and a stay-at-home mother. Their circumstances were very humble. He recounted that during his childhood, every day as the family sat around the dinner table, his father would ask each one in turn, “And what did you do for someone today?” The children were determined to do a good turn every day so they could report to their father that they had helped someone. Dr. McConnell calls this exercise his father’s most valuable legacy, for that expectation and those words inspired him and his siblings to help others throughout their lives. As they grew and matured, their motivation for providing service changed to an inner desire to help others.”

During his life, Jesus Christ sought opportunities to help others, and he also responded to requests that came to him. He also taught that he is the “light and life of the world,” the one who forgives our sins, heals our souls, and is the giver of life eternal. For example, when Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda, he went seeking those who needed healing. He found the man who had been waiting by the pool “a long time.” ‘Sir,’ said the man, ‘I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” Later when Jesus saw the man in the temple, he said, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole” (KJV John 5:1-15). The man had been made whole in both body and spirit—Jesus both physically healed and spiritually forgave the man.

The Savior taught His disciples, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Monson continues, “I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives.” May we grow and flourish by choosing to help others in any way we can.

Beth Wright’s great love is her family. She also enjoys music, fishing, cycling, hiking and being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.