Planting Trees

The old man finished and stood up to admire his work.

The seedling was now firmly planted in the soil of mother earth.

A passing stranger stopped and asked why the man would plant a tree

which would bring the geriatric no benefit that he could see.

“You are right, young man, I will never stand under it’s shade or marvel over it’s majestic branches and leaves.

I am planting for others who will come along eventually”

On another day, at a different time,

a man stopped in his journey to fix a bridge that he would never cross again.

He had the skills and desire that others may not possess –

he wanted to repair the damage so that others may be blessed.

On another occasion, a woman had plenty to spare –

she saw someone in need and had the desire to share.

She too was planting trees of a similar type -

it had to do with showing kindness and helping others in their plight.

If the things we do are only for our own use or benefit,

mankind would surely be limited in it’s progress.

Doing things that bless others is really what Jesus taught.

It is giving without recompense or a second thought.

When we do things just for ourselves, we will not know when to stop –

we become shallow in our thinking and selfish in our acts.

We will see the meaning and purpose to life more clearly

when we forget our troubles by giving service to others daily.

January 2022

Thomas S. Monson, “What Have I Done for Someone Today”, October 2009

The Apostle Paul admonished, “By love serve one another.” Recall with me the familiar words of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon: “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” The Savior taught His disciples, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives.

Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives”