No one likes feeling like a project. ⁣

We all want to matter to other people in real ways.

Which makes fake friendships or very obviously being a “project” especially harmful. ⁣

Maybe your mind is starting to feel frustration or resentment for moments when you’ve lacked authentic connection and friendship.

But let’s look forward with a “Lord, is it I?” mindset.

Do we sometimes treat others just like an assignment? ⁣

Do we forget that each person we interact with is an extremely valuable Child of God that He loves more than we can comprehend?

Do we avoid the vulnerability of “real” for the comfort of “safe”?⁣

Jesus Christ, of course, taught the perfect example of this. ⁣

First, he instructed the Nephites that if someone isn’t worthy, they should not be partaking of the sacrament anymore. ⁣

(A command that always seemed harsh to me until I realized that “being damned” is less about a curse from an ruthless God and instead a natural consequence of stopping our own progression.)⁣

But then, Jesus tells His disciples to never cast out those who have become unworthy. ⁣

Instead?⁣

“Ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him”. (3 Nephi 18:30)⁣

We always minister and pray and love.

So how do we accomplish this without making someone feel like a project?⁣

This is something I’ve been working on for a while – developing and showing true, authentic love. ⁣

And something that I’ve only been able to do by seeing beautiful examples from other women that I look up to.

What have they taught me? ⁣

Listen much more than we talk. ⁣

Most people just want someone to connect with.

And connection comes through conversation and shared experiences. ⁣

And when I listen to a sister who has lived a very different path than I have, and I listen and pray and listen some more…⁣

I am filled with the true love of God towards them. ⁣

Some people aren’t ready to open up and talk yet, which means finding small ways to show them I care and remember them. ⁣

But at the end of the day, we all crave true connection. ⁣

So I challenge you to reflect today:

How can I become more authentic in my relationships with others?⁣

How can I show love, no matter what others choose to do?

How I continue to minister and pray in precisely the way my Savior would to each of His children?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post No one likes a project  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But Christ’s interaction with Peter’s mother-in-law is quiet and powerful!

“And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

“And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.” (Matthew 8:14-15)

As far as the record shows, no words were exchanged.

(Of course, it’s possible there were, but I like to imagine there weren’t.) ⁣

Maybe she wanted to be healed in her heart, but she couldn’t voice that.

She didn’t want to sound selfish or self-important. ⁣

“And Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing”.

But Jesus saw her, blessed her, and she was healed. ⁣

What an intimate, compassionate moment! ⁣

And then what did she do?

She ministered.

She probably spoke to them and testified of our Savior. That is amazing.

But I also think of another definition of the word “minister.”

One that we are probably more familiar with.

I like to think she lived a beautiful, healthy life filled with serving others after this point. ⁣

She used her silent healing to go and do even more of God’s will.

She was healed and chose to use her healing to become an extension of the Savior.

Just like this important woman, we can choose to ask for blessings and then use those blessings to go out and bless others!

In this way, Jesus knows He is healing more than one person when He blesses us.

Heal.

And then minister.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Heal and minister first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.