This week has been a whirlwind! Honestly, I feel like I’m running from one thing to the next and trying to keep all my ducks in a row. I’m sure you’ve all felt this way. The beginning of the week was so much fun. We had a sellout show in South Dakota, and it was wonderful to see so many of you there. Then I came home to some appointments that needed attention and spent the remainder of the week being a Wife, Mom, and Grandma and in between accomplishing the long to-do list!!!
Sometimes it can become difficult to do everything on your to-do list while also focusing on the to-be list. I know; I’m preaching to the choir here… but I don’t want to just do something kind; I want to be kind. I don’t want to do something charitable but to be someone full of charity. I don’t want to do something Christlike; I want to be someone who follows Christ.
So, each day as I sat down to study my scriptures this week, it felt it wasn’t a coincidence I’d be studying Matthew 18 and the parable of the Good Samaritan.
When the man from Jerusalem was beaten and left for dead on the side of the road, He was in need. Then when two different people, a priest, and a Levite, walked right by him and did nothing, I’m sure he felt so alone and hopeless. Both of these men were probably good men. They probably worshipped and worked in the temple--spending their time becoming closer to God. But, as I read, I couldn’t help but feel how unfortunate they were. They maybe spent too much time thinking about what they did in the temple that they didn’t spend enough time thinking about who they should be outside the temple.
“But then a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.”
I don’t think the Samaritan had it on his to-do list for the day to have compassion for someone or save a dying man. But I believe he was probably working on himself to be a better person every day. To try and become more like his Heavenly Father. So, he didn’t just help the man from Jerusalem by giving him a drink of water and finding him some shade to rest under; he…
“…went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”
This was exactly the reminder I needed this past week as I pondered Matthew 18!! As I’m running around this coming week trying to get everything done on my to “do” list, I need to remember to “be” more like the Good Samaritan. I want to strive to be more compassionate, more charitable, and more loving to everyone I cross paths with.
When asked what the first great commandment was, the Savior taught that it was to “…love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”. Matthew 22: 37-39
As we head out to accomplish our busy schedules this week, I hope we remember to love all our neighbors a little more!
Remember too, I love you all. 🥰Happy Sunday, and have the best week ever!!
#Sundaymessaage
April 24-30: John 7-10
May 1-7: Luke 12-17, John 11
May 8-14: Matthew 19-20, Mark 10, Luke 18
May 15-21: Matthew 21-23, Mark 11, Luke 19-20, John 12