Makin' Memories in Kansas: What Have You Done For Someone Today?

This week for Family Home Evening (every Monday evening is spent with the family learning about Christs teachings, singing, praying, playing together and enjoying a treat) we spent time on a lesson given by our Prophet--President Thomas S. Monson entitled "What Have I Done for Someone Today?" He talked about a man named Jack McConnell, MD who was one of seven children in a humble home. His father asked the children each night around the dinner table "And what did you do for someone today?" Each child was determined to do something so that they could share it with their father each evening. As they grew their motivation changed to an inner desire to help others. This man became a doctor and later helped invent the polio vaccine, Tylenol, the MRI, and a volunteer organization for retired physicians. Thomas S. Monson stated "We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we're doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the "thick of thin things.......We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness---be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us."

Each night around the dinner table we ask our children what were the 3 best things they did that day. During the month of November I always put up this big turkey that I drew and laminated and then at the dinner table we put up feathers of Thanksgiving instead. After reading this talk BJ and I decided to change it this year. Instead of putting up feathers written with words of "Thanksgiving" we are instead asking the children each night what they did for someone that day. We decided that the best way to show God that we are "thankful" for all of our blessings would be to serve Him by serving His children. I'm realizing that it's going to take time to shift our way of thinking. We don't always have a service oriented frame of mind. However, the kids have done some great things. Cardon has found a way to serve someone at school each day and Jace told me last night that he served me by holding really still when he got "shot" (he got the H1N1 vaccination yesterday). Ha! Ha! I'm hoping by the end of the month they will be thinking of ways they can serve each day without a reminder.