Daily Gems: Lessons of Love

Daily Gems
Lessons of Love
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“None of us will forget that gray morning in January when our beloved
teacher announced to us that the mother of one of our classmates had passed
away. We thought of our own mothers and how much they meant to us. We felt
sorrow for Billy Devenport in his great loss.

“The lesson that
Sunday was from the book of Acts, chapter 20, verse 35: ‘Remember the
words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to
receive.’ At the conclusion of the presentation of a well-prepared
lesson, Lucy Gertsch [our teacher] commented on the economic
situation of Billy’s family. These were depression times; money was
scarce. With a twinkle in her eyes, she asked, ‘How would you like to
follow this teaching of the Lord? How would you feel about taking your
party fund and, as a class, giving it to the Devenports as an expression of
our love?’ The decision was unanimous. We counted very carefully each
penny and placed the total sum in a large envelope.

“Ever shall I
remember the tiny band walking those three city blocks, entering
Billy’s home, greeting him, his brother, sisters, and father.
Noticeably absent was his mother. Always I shall treasure the tears which
glistened in the eyes of each one present as the white envelope containing
our precious party fund passed from the delicate hand of our teacher to the
needy hand of a grief-stricken father. We fairly skipped our way back
to the chapel. Our hearts were lighter than they had ever been, our joy
more full, our understanding more profound. This simple act of kindness
welded us together as one. We learned through our own experience that
indeed it is more blessed to give than to receive.

“The years have
flown. The old chapel is gone, a victim of industrialization. The boys and
girls who learned, who laughed, who grew under the direction of that
inspired teacher of truth have never forgotten her love or her
lessons.”

Topics: teaching, service, love, blessings, sacrifice

(Thomas S. Monson, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” Ensign, Feb. 2000, 5-6)