This Is What I Do
This Is What I Do
By Kathy Penrod
Throughout my life, my family and I have been the recipients of many kind acts. Some little, some big, some so tender I can’t talk about them. Each time this happens, my heart is filled with love towards my fellow man. It is as if angels have attended to me.
The other day we had a snowstorm. It wasn’t especially bad. Just a couple inches of snow. But for some reason, the roads were terrible. One of our sons, with his wife and two babies, got stuck on the off-ramp while heading home. Of course, when they called us, my husband left right away to go help. By the time my husband reached them, there was a gentleman, with his truck, helping dig out our son’s car. My husband said this guy was like a superhero, driving over rocks and medians to reach our son. This stranger hooked up his towline to my son’s car and pulled them to safety. When they thanked this man for his help, his response was, “This is what I do.”
I have been thinking about that statement over and over. “This is what I do.” Now, I don’t know this man’s story. I don’t even know the color of his truck. But I do know one thing. And that is that he was spreading the light of Christ with his selfless actions. In his service, he was acting as an angel on an errand from the Lord.
My mom used to talk about how good people were. I love seeing that truth in my own life. We are taught that everyone is born with the light of Christ. (Doctrine & Covenants 84:46) This light is seen in people who act the way the Savior would want. When others perform random acts of kindness towards me, I can see that light of Christ shine in their life. I can see their goodness.
Imagine what this world could be if everyone would let that light inside them shine just a little bit more. If everyone tried just a little harder to act as an angel in someone else’s life, we would begin to have more peace in our communities.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland says,
“When we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods... Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.”
We need each other. Humankind wasn’t meant billions of isolated individuals. We are all here to help each other make it through life. We can do that just by “doing” for those we interact with.
So, next time you are running errands, say thank you to the cashier, open doors for the mom with her hands full, smile at the person you pass in the aisle. Reach out to your fellow humans and be your own kind of superhero. Seek to be that angel in someone’s life and make service just something that you do. You will find that the more you allow that light within you to shine, the greater your heart will swell with love. Love for fellow man and love for our Savior.
