When my children were young, I often fell into a pattern of comparing my efforts against the seemingly more capable and talented mothers around me. I had trained myself to see everyone else’s successes while focusing on my failures.
I could not value my own contributions because, through my eyes, they were always lacking. This viewpoint took a toll on my self-esteem.
The Word that Started a Shift
One morning, during my gospel study, I read the familiar words of Doctrine and Covenants 4:2: “See that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength.”
Out of habit, I began thinking of those around me who served God in beautiful ways: the sister who delivered homemade bread, the brother who taught impactful Sunday School lessons, the friend who knew everyone’s name. My heart sank as I told myself that I would never measure up. Their hearts, mights, minds, and strengths were so much greater than mine.
Then, for some reason, I reread the verse. But this time, I was drawn to a word I’d never paid attention to as if the Holy Ghost had marked it in bright yellow highlighter: Your.
Understanding flipped on like a light switch. Serve God with all Your heart. Your might. Your mind. Your strength. The Spirit whispered that in focusing on other people’s gifts, I’d forgotten to notice and appreciate the very precious blessings my Heavenly Father had given specifically to me.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:
“We spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does.
“Be thankful for all the small successes ... These successes may seem tiny to you, and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him.”
My Heavenly Father wasn’t comparing me or my efforts against anyone else. No. He was asking me to give what I have. My talents, my abilities, my love. Exactly who I already am, what I can already do, at the level that is my personal all.
An Example in the Scriptures
While in Jerusalem, Jesus visited the temple with His apostles. As people brought donations to the treasury, Christ noticed that many who were rich “cast in much” (Mark 12:41). But He drew His Apostles’ attention to a widow who threw in only two mites.
I’ve often wondered about this grieving woman. What was on her mind as she approached the treasury? Was she confident in her offering, or did she feel ashamed that she didn’t have more to give? Did she feel like weeping as she added her two tiny coins to the wealth donated by others?
I hope that after dropping those mites from her hand, she was able to overhear Jesus’s conversation as he praised her, saying, “this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For … she … did cast in all that she had” (Mark 12:43–44).
Through our mortal lens, the widow’s mites were nearly worthless when compared to the riches of others. But Christ uses an eternal lens. Her offering had immense value to Him because she was the only one brave enough to offer her all.
This is the peace He offers to every heart that worries about being enough. He does not compare, and we don’t need to either. If it is our all, it is enough.
The Best Me I Can Be
Your. With one word, Heavenly Father flipped my perspective. His gentle nudge helped me commit to start appreciating, even celebrating, my gifts. A ray of confidence returned to my heart that I’ve carefully nourished over the years.
As I’ve offered my all to God, simple as it is, I’ve watched in amazement as He has magnified my gifts and opened doors of opportunity to learn and become more than I ever imagined.
Heavenly Father needs me to be me. And He needs you to be you! He has blessed us with individual personalities, abilities, interests, and experiences that allow us to serve Him in all the diverse ways needed on this earth. If we offer Him our all—the best of our hearts, mights, minds, and strengths—He will bless our efforts.
Your all is all He needs.
Your heart. Your might. Your mind. Your strength.
Exactly what you can give.
He can and will magnify your efforts, and one day, you’ll look back and recognize how He’s turned your two mites into treasure.
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