Is There Anything Else I Can Do for You Today?

A number of years ago while I was serving as Bishop of the Irvine 2nd Ward, I had the opportunity of being blessed with a number of wonderful counselors during that period of time. Each one had strengths that blessed me in my role as Bishop. One in particular did something each Sunday that impressed me then and has continued to influence my thinking over the years. At the conclusion of the regularly scheduled Sunday meetings, and having completed his assignments as a counselor in the bishopric, he would knock on the door to my office where I would be counseling members, which counseling could go on for several hours, and opening the door a crack he would say "Bishop, is there anything else I can do for you today?" He would do this every Sunday without fail, and although most of the time there was nothing else that I could have him do, his offer always filled my heart with warmth because I knew that he absolutely meant what he had said.

I thought then, as I do today, that his words could well form the basis of our attitude in giving service in the church and in our relationships with our loved ones at home. Regardless of the assignment, at the end of the day, hopefully our attitude and desire would be to say to our Heavenly Father, "Father, is there anything else I can do for you today?" And in our relationships with our spouses and children, to have in our hearts the thought and desire, though maybe not verbally expressed, "Is there anything else I can do for you today" would go a long way in making all our lives sweeter and less selfish and self-centered.

I can call Jo Anne at 3 AM needing some help. In just a few moments she will appear at the door of my bedroom looking scary at that time of the morning. She responds to my request without ever making me feel that I am imposing on her in any way, and invariably says "Is there anything else I can do for you?" Not a bad way to live one's life.

Just an observation.

Dad/Grandpa/Jack