Because I Have Been Given Much

I am sitting here today cleaning and getting it all together as I am back from my trip to Haiti/Dominican Republic. I am waiting for my floor to dry so that I may continue to finish cleaning up around here and decided to play some church hymns. One night as I was out in the field among the people of Haiti I heard a hymn being sung in Creole. It was a familiar hymn and it brought me a feeling of peace as I listened to them sing with such sweet voices together.
I played a few hymns and turned to hymn # 219. I played and then read the words and felt so blessed to be able to give and grateful for my blessings and abundance. I asked the question to the others I traveled with as we looked out on the people at the area we were working. Why was I born where I was and not here? We all asked that question many times over the week as we looked around.
Because I have been given much, I too must give.
Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live
I shall divide my gifts with thee
With every brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me
Read this hymn and the visiting teaching message this month, Feb. ( Click on the handout to link to the full message.) Wow, is all I can say. We receive great counsel and we must heed it's message. I know from experience that this is important, this is how we need to structure our lives.
Have faith in the Savior—not just to do better but to be better.
I know It takes great faith to utter those simple word. My goal, my mantra: do not just do better, BE better!

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr