With all your getting- get CHARITY
One day, just after returning to our tracting area after eating lunch, we knocked on a normal door in a normal neighborhood, in the normal small village of Mons, Belgium. What we discovered there was thankfully, anything but normal. A wrinkled little old lady eventually came to the door. We were invited in and introduced to an even more wrinkled little old man. These two, we observed, had been in the middle of their only meal of the day. Their meal consisted of a small bowl of flour paste which they were sharing. We learned that their cupboards were bare and their resources were exhausted until their monthly subsistence check would hopefully come in a few days. We offered spiritual food and a prayer before we left, knowing that what they really needed at that moment in time was not what we offered. We continued tracting for a few more doors then Elder Staheli announced that he was now hungry and we would be going to the local market. “But, Elder Staheli, “ I objected, “ how could you possibly be hungry so soon? We just finished lunch less than a hour ago!” He was my senior companion so, overriding my objections, we headed to the store. $ 20.00 later (french franc equivalent) with a basket of food, Elder Staheli was happy again. Walking back the way we had come, he stopped at a door and knocked. There was our little old lady! As Elder Staheli handed her the sack of groceries , her eyes instantly swelled with tears as she expressed her heartfelt gratitude for what had been given her. Few words were spoken as we began tracting where we had left off. I realized then and have pondered often since upon the lesson of Charity not just taught by my companion but lived! I yearned to be as Christ like as Elder Staheli! Later in his life he returned to France as a mission president in Paris where i’m sure he taught his missionaries among other things “ and charity suffers long and is kind,and envieth not, is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not Charity, ye are nothing, for Charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto Charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-
But Charity is the pure love of Christ and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love,which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen “.Moroni 7:45-48.
Years later as a young counselor in a Bishopric in Wellsville, Utah, we visited the home of Evan Maughn. As we entered his home, we felt as though we had entered a Temple where the spirit was in rich supply. Evan’s wife had suffered with dementia for years and he lovingly cared for her every need. Tears filled his eyes with joy at having his Bishopric visit his home. He had been unable to attend church for many years as his wife could not attend or be left unattended. His love and Charity for his wife was evident through his years of uncomplaining dedication. His Christ like countenance shone brightly through his years of Christ like service.
I again observed Charity in full display when my sister Darla and her husband Larry took into their home our cousin Kim Bragonje’s son Jesse, following Kim’s death, and raised him as they had their own son.
Charity was on full display as my parents opened their home to care for Grandma and Grandpa Wade in their old age. My mother cared for both , then after Grandma’s death, cared years more for Grandpa as if he had been her own father not father in law.
My big brother Byron has been another living example of Christ like Charity as he performed countless hours of charitable service to Jesse when he was in need. Also , caring for Grandpa Wade in his own home for extended periods of time when others would not or felt they could not for various reasons. Byron’s Charity extends still from family to include former strangers- like his now new friend, Gina. Upon Gina’s recent prognosis of cancer, her husband abandoned her and their 3 small boys. Gina is now living in crisis mode as she deals with sickness, work, raising her children by herself and facing a future of sickness, debt and worry. From his role as baseball coach to Gina’s son, Byron now enlarges his Charity from his time, to financial support to advocate for Gina to those with other resources who will now hopefully help Gina as well.
I have witnessed Charity , the pure love of Christ, In many forms and from many wonderful examples throughout my life. Many of you are regularly performing your own charitable acts of service and love.
The world may not acknowledge or even recognize your acts of Charity, however large or small,
but they are always recorded in heaven, especially when performed with “ the pure love of Christ” as your motive.
The scriptures remind us of the need to be Charitable toward others. “ for I was an hungered , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in:
naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered , and fed thee? Or thirsty and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked , and clothed thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”(Mathew 25:35-40.)
So, dear loved ones- please remember as Moroni reminded us in his exhortations in the very last chapter of the Book of Mormon ( Moroni 10:21) “And except ye have Charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith ; neither can ye if ye have no hope." So remember, With all your getting- get Charity!
Much Love- The Grandparent Chronicles
I again observed Charity in full display when my sister Darla and her husband Larry took into their home our cousin Kim Bragonje’s son Jesse, following Kim’s death, and raised him as they had their own son.
Charity was on full display as my parents opened their home to care for Grandma and Grandpa Wade in their old age. My mother cared for both , then after Grandma’s death, cared years more for Grandpa as if he had been her own father not father in law.
My big brother Byron has been another living example of Christ like Charity as he performed countless hours of charitable service to Jesse when he was in need. Also , caring for Grandpa Wade in his own home for extended periods of time when others would not or felt they could not for various reasons. Byron’s Charity extends still from family to include former strangers- like his now new friend, Gina. Upon Gina’s recent prognosis of cancer, her husband abandoned her and their 3 small boys. Gina is now living in crisis mode as she deals with sickness, work, raising her children by herself and facing a future of sickness, debt and worry. From his role as baseball coach to Gina’s son, Byron now enlarges his Charity from his time, to financial support to advocate for Gina to those with other resources who will now hopefully help Gina as well.
I have witnessed Charity , the pure love of Christ, In many forms and from many wonderful examples throughout my life. Many of you are regularly performing your own charitable acts of service and love.
The world may not acknowledge or even recognize your acts of Charity, however large or small,
but they are always recorded in heaven, especially when performed with “ the pure love of Christ” as your motive.
The scriptures remind us of the need to be Charitable toward others. “ for I was an hungered , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in:
naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered , and fed thee? Or thirsty and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked , and clothed thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”(Mathew 25:35-40.)
So, dear loved ones- please remember as Moroni reminded us in his exhortations in the very last chapter of the Book of Mormon ( Moroni 10:21) “And except ye have Charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith ; neither can ye if ye have no hope." So remember, With all your getting- get Charity!
Much Love- The Grandparent Chronicles
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