Find Healing through Service
The benefits of service aren’t just for the people you help. As you follow Jesus Christ’s example of love, you’ll also see blessings in your own life.
When you’re feeling down, one of the best cures can be serving other people. Often the times you most want to focus on yourself are the times you can benefit most from looking outward.
Helping people in less fortunate circumstances can stop you from dwelling on your own problems and increase your sense of gratitude. When you’re feeling lonely, volunteer work is a great way to make new friends. Doing something nice for someone you’re struggling to love can soften your heart and theirs to smooth the way to a better relationship. Service gives life more meaning and purpose.
After the Burnetts lost their son to cancer, they decided to honor his memory by helping others.
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Most importantly, when you love others, you’re following Jesus Christ.
Jesus provided the perfect example of love and service throughout His ministry. He taught that to love God and to love others are the two greatest commandments, that we should love and serve even our enemies, and that when we serve others, we are serving God.
The Savior provided a powerful example of service shortly before His death, when He humbly washed His Apostles’ feet. After concluding this sacred act, He taught, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).
If you want to follow Jesus’s example of love and service but don’t know where to start, these ideas may help:
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Pray for opportunities to help others.
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Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while just to say hi.
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Drop off a treat or a card on someone’s doorstep.
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Give someone a compliment.
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Offer someone going through a hard time a service, such as mowing their lawn or watching their child.
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Look for volunteer opportunities in your area on JustServe.org.
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Join a church or other group that does frequent service projects.