Thank you, Cindy, for presenting today's lesson: Love Thy Neighbour As Thyself. It was so inspiring to hear stories of how the sisters in our Relief Society have been able to both give and receive loving service. President George Albert Smith teaches us that: "It isn't only what we receive that makes us happy; it is what we give, and the more we give of that which is uplifting and enriching to our Father's children, the more we have to give. It grows like a great fountain of life and bubbles up to eternal happiness."
"...Let us evidence our appreciation of what the Lord has given us by serving Him, and we are serving Him when we do good to His children. Freely we have received, now freely give. With hearts warmed with love and kindness for our fellow men, let us press steadily on until the final summons shall comes, and we shall meet our record. Then, if we have improved our talents, if we have been honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and charitable, and have sought to uplift every soul with whom we have associated, if we have lived up to the light whenever opportunity has presented, how happy we will be and how our hearts will swell with gratitude when we receive from the Maker of heaven and earth that welcome plaudit: "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
I have come to understand that my capacity to feel joy in life is directly related to the amount of service that I am able to render. I have also found that when I love and take care of myself (spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc), that I have a greater capacity to serve, and am therefore able to experience even greater joy. I am grateful for the Lord's guidance in how He would have me serve, so that I may maintain balance in loving my neighbor as myself, and keep myself open to a more steady stream of joy in my life.
