This past week I was reminded of the phrase, “Never suppress a generous thought.” Let me explain.
Back in 2007 I remember sitting in the theater of the Brigham Young University Museum of Art to watch the weekly campus devotional. The speaker on that particular day was Bonnie D. Parkin. At the time she was the Relief Society General President of the Church.
The devotional she prepared was geared toward service and finding our personal ministry. She told a story about “never suppressing a generous thought," meaning, when you think of doing something nice, act on it. I have often thought of this devotional and have tried to become better at simply being thoughtful and kinder.
Last week I saw this principle when I received an email from an acquaintance, someone I hadn’t really talked to or seen in years. This individual wanted to tell me how much they looked up to me. I mention this not to toot my own horn, but to suggest maybe we don’t do this enough. I was so appreciative of this individual's kind words. I started thinking about the people I admire and how they probably don’t know how much they have influenced my life. Why would we not tell these people? Life is just too short to keep kind thoughts and actions to ourselves.
I have heard of people doing “30 Day Kindness Challenges” where they do one act of kindness for someone else a day. It is amazing how you can forget your own problems when you are thinking of helping someone else with theirs.
I know this sounds like a church talk or a Relief Society lesson, and to be honest, I am okay with that. It only seems appropriate that I would end by saying, “Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?”
Well, have you?
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Ashley Bardsley is a contributing writer for LDS Living. The few things she enjoys more than traveling the world as an event coordinator include making and eating cupcakes, sleeping in and watching Saved by the Bell reruns with her husband.