You are the GIFT

Inspirational devotional talk You are the Gift given at BYU recently by Sharon Eubank of the LDS Relief Society general presidency contained great thoughts for everyone to consider in this day of turmoil in our society and divisions along political, economic and national divisions.

"If we change our perspective so that caring for the poor and the needy is less about giving stuff away and more about filling the hunger for human contact and about hearing meaningful conversations and creating rich, positive relationships, then the Lord can send us some place. Every single person can do this on his or her own. You don’t need a fund, but it’s going to take some commitment."

"We live in a world that’s coming apart," she said. "It’s being pulled apart, so that the unity of community, and the respect for other people’s beliefs and tolerance of differences and the protection of the minority voice is being shredded. It’s extremely destructive to all of us when everyone outside of this narrow little clan becomes an enemy that we’re going to vilify. As those forces in our society rise up, then so must an answering strong sentiment and a skill set on the opposite side."

Sister Eubank left BYU students with some questions to consider: "How are you going to help people who are poor in spirit? Can you stitch a relationship as well as you can stitch a quilt? What enemy are you going to start viewing as a brother?" I WOULD ADD how can we heal DIVISIONS in our own families and communities? Start being KINDER to each other, forgiving of DIFFERENCES and do some HEALING? What are your thoughts?