Running Toward The Heartache

Day 9: Giving Thanks for The Helpers

This year cities across our nation, and around our globe have experienced a rash of natural disasters of epic proportion. We’ve seen devastation by hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires… it’s felt like nearly every time we turn on the news there’s a new catastrophe!

But, if everything collapses around you, there’s one thing for certain you can always count on.

Mormons will be there.

 

Those Yellow Shirts

The Mormon Helping Hands program was officially organized in 1998 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Helping Hands perform community service in times of major disaster and also for smaller community improvement projects, such as city parks, clearing debris, planting trees and flowers, scrubbing off graffiti, painting fences, etc.

“When it’s Crunch Time you can count on Mormons!”

Check out this recent news report from Texas!

“When trouble strikes, Latter-day Saints run toward the heartache, and never away from it.”

As disciples of Jesus Christ, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strive to follow the Savior’s admonition to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison. The Savior also taught that we are to love and care for each other. So, we look for every way possible to do that!

 “Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”

Everyone Can Be A Helping Hand

As complimentary as many media reports are, Mormons certainly are not the only ones serving and saving the world! There are so many amazing people out there of all faiths, cultures and creeds who have love in their hearts, service in their souls, and simply want to help!

I love how Mr. Rogers taught us to “Look for the helpers.”

Instead of just LOOKING for the helpers, it’s even better to BE one of the helpers!

Being a HELPING HAND means seeing a need, and “rushing in” to do what you can. Even if sometimes all you can do is lend a listening ear, or give a hug.

There are so many opportunities all around us! Helping doesn’t always mean performing a physical task. It could mean volunteering to collect for a food bank, reading with children at a local school, walking a neighbors dog, taking in a meal, stopping by to visit, making a phone call to that person you’ve been thinking about a lot lately, holding someone’s baby, or sharing your seat on the bus.

When we become a helper, it doesn’t just make a difference to those we are serving. It makes a tremendous positive impact on our own well being. There’s a little song I loved to sing as a child that says“When we’re helping, we’re happy. And we sing as we go…”

It’s true!

Look for the helpers, and you will see lots of smiling faces and happy hearts! ♥

 

And, if you ever want to be a happy helper in a disaster zone, or participate in a local improvement project, just call Mormon! We’d love to have you join forces and be a Helping Hand with us! – MoSop