The Simple Yet Profound Effect in Giving You

One of my favorite things to do is visit my sister on the Oregon coast. She is gentle and kind and sharing space with her for a week recharges me in amazing ways.

For several years in a row, I took my granddaughter, Samantha, along. One year she didn’t get to come, and she was sad at missing out so I promised that I would bring back something special just for her.

We always loved spending days at the beach exploring tide pools, looking for beach rocks, and finding agates. Sometimes, we even found sand dollars and dried up starfish. I knew my sister had a few at her house so I decided to create something that would represent those fun beach days we had shared together.

After choosing the best starfish, we drove to Sami’s favorite swimming beach and got to work looking for just the right spot to create this picture.

Sami loved it instantly. In her little girl heart, she understood the meaning and the love behind it all.

It didn’t take long to create the picture, but the gift of that small labor will last a lifetime.

It’s amazing how giving just a few minutes of effort can brighten someone’s day. It doesn’t take much to smile, to waive hello, send a text, or make a call. When we take the time to make a positive difference in someone else’s life, we also feel better ourselves.

At the end of the Savior’s mortal life, after He instituted the sacrament in the upper room before the agony and gift of Gethsemane and Golgotha, He gave important instructions to His apostles (and us) including a new commandment to love one another as He has loved.

I believe the Lord never commands us to do anything without providing a way for us to accomplish that command. Through His grace, we can learn to love in powerful and profound ways where both the giver and receiver are changed for the better.

I think Ralph Waldo Emerson must have understood that when he wrote:

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”