It was early, it was outside, and I had a million other things to do. ⁣

When I arrived, I was disappointed to learn that none of my friends from my ward had even showed up, even though they said they would.⁣

Sooooo I spent the rest of the activity performing service with a terrible attitude. ⁣

Annoyed that I had come, tired, cold, and a little bit sore from all the hard physical work. ⁣

Clearly, I was missing the entire point of the service activity, and my heart certainly was not happy. ⁣

The Lord taught the Israelites to serve the poor and needy in their community. ⁣

“Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him”. (Deuteronomy 15:10) ⁣

We are asked to give freely to those who are need, which is so important. ⁣

But we also need to make sure our hearts are not grieved, annoyed, or resentful when we give service. ⁣

So would it have been better to just sleep in that Saturday morning and not go to the service project? (Like all my friends decided to do?!)⁣

I don’t think so. ⁣

Service was still performed. Someone else got to feel gratitude for a lightened load. The leaders who had organized it didn’t have to sacrifice as much time away from their families because so many youth bailed.⁣

And it has now become an anchor learning opportunity for me about how NOT to perform service. ⁣

(But just to be clear, that was not an immediate lesson I learned. Reflection and growth take time and maturity!)⁣

I still try to show up to things, even when I don’t totally feel like it because I know at least other people’s loads get lightened. ⁣

But it’s so much better when I prepare my heart and mind with love beforehand! ⁣

Giving with a happy and willing heart makes all the difference.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Bailing on the service project  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“But you are being called because the Lord knows you are willing to serve. And He loves to call people who have a desire serve.”

I’ll never forget when the Stake presidency said this to my husband.

There was no pretentiousness.

No holier-than-thou back-patting for his new calling.

It was just –

You have a desire to serve. The Lord needs someone who is willing to serve.

So let’s have you serve in this certain capacity for a while.

Such a cool way to look at callings, right?

We have to accept a calling, meaning we have to signify that we are willing.

But what about when we don’t have an official calling? Or we want something more?

If we desire, we can be the means of doing much good in this generation.

We can talk with God.

And figure out what our current calling is.

As Elaine Dalton shared this week, our calling can sometimes seem so unimportant.

So ordinary.

So mundane.

Because we don’t see the way God sees.

The act of service that your little kid will never remember is adding more love into the world and making their life more peaceful.

The little moment of patience just taught a future leader how to problem-solve on their own.

The text you sent to a friend that led to a short, unimportant conversation answered their prayers in a way you will never understand.

If we have desires,

If we are willing,

The Lord will use us to accomplish much good.

So much good.

And sometimes we have no clue how much good we are creating.

Only God knows all of it.

But if we have desires, and we do the best we can, we will put so much good into the world.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Desires and goodness first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.