The unexpected blessing of serving others

I have been volunteering at a local shelter for victims of domestic violence, doing some slightly different work than I have ever done before. One of my new tasks is to admit victims into the shelter by determining eligibility, and then assisting them in "checking in" by finding out more about their situation and helping them settle in for that first day or night at the shelter.This is by far my favorite part of my responsibilities, because I can't wait to sit across from them as they tell their story, and tell them how proud I am of their courage to leave. Several have spoken of pretending to go to the grocery store, picking up their children and their purse and coming straight to the shelter. It has moved me more than I can say, but I would love to share a realization I had a couple of weeks ago while checking in a resident.

This resident came in with her young child, and was attempting to cuddle the sleeping toddler around her very pregnant stomach as she quietly described her escape.  During the intake I learned that she is younger than I am, and that took me back a step. Abused by her partner, she was forced to flee with only the clothes on her back while she loses everything to save her life and the lives of her children. My heart breaks when I take in what she is going to have to face in the coming weeks and months. As I take her back to her room, I let her know that we can help supply her with any needs she and her child may have: clothes, food, shampoo, conditioner, soap, brushes, the list goes on. She shyly states that she has nothing in her purse but important documents, and I eagerly take her to the cupboards that I have been trained to dispense items from.

As I open it and she hesitates to take anything, I am choked up as I am overwhelmed by the generosity of others. I now see these shelves through different eyes, understanding that if it were not for that ward who brought us boxes and boxes of shampoo and conditioner last week, that I would not be able to help this sweet girl start over; that if it weren't for the gentleman who brought us a package of diapers and wipes a couple of months ago then I wouldn't be able to help her care for her child; and if it weren't for the young mom who donated fleece blankets and stuffed animals then I wouldn't be able to help comfort this young child when he wakes up in a new and scary place. I recognized as tears filled my eyes and I tried not to let her see, that because all of those people opened their hearts and served those around them, that I was blessed because of their service too. They will never know that they not only blessed this young mother and her children, but me as well. I was able to turn to this woman and happily say: "Please, take WHATEVER you need, we are so happy to give this to you" because of them.

Heavenly Father has given us a great gift-- the gift of service. He knew that those donations, however great or small, would touch many lives, even if that meant the staff too.  Something to think about the next time you are serving someone else.