This evening we gathered as a group of women to sew wish pillows for the Make -A-Wish Foundation. Entering in the multipurpose room, I noticed stations had been set up for each of us to work on a particular step of the process so we could complete the pillows in assembly-line fashion. The night before teenagers had gathered to cut the fabric so it would be ready for the women to sew and assemble. Some of us sewed straight lines. Some pinned fabric pieces together. Some ironed hems, and other cut the sewn fabric into smaller pillows. Finally a group of women serged the edges while other turned them right side out. For about three hours the group worked continuously sewing, cutting, pinning, and turning. The room buzzed like a hive of activity as the women chatted and shared with each other about what was happening in their lives. In the middle of this great hum of busywork, I thought about how great it makes one feel to be involved in projects like these and to be a part of a collective working to make the world just a little bit better. I don't know exactly how many wish pillows we made that night, but I do know that if one person tried to accomplish the same task, not only would it take much longer, but it would be far more difficult and maybe not as enjoyable. However, when we work together, the old saying "Many hands makes light works" rings true. Marvin J. Ballard put it this way in his talk entitled Be Anxiously Engaged in October 2012, "Work that would be overwhelming for a few bees to do becomes lighter because all of the bees faithfully do their part."
When we each contribute even a small but important part, together we are able to accomplish something much greater. Again Elder Ballard said, "Great things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands 'anxiously engages in a good cause. '" If we were to think about each child who would receive one of these wish pillows and learn of their individual stories and situations, I don't think we would be able to hold back the tears. What a beautiful experience it is to know one can contribute a small portion and have it mean so much in the end. Truly the bees are a great example of how people can thrive together as they collective work to achieve a common purpose. Isn't if funny that merely being busy doesn't accomplish the same goal as working busily together. "It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted." (Mary O'Connor) I don't know about you, but I much prefer to be a bee than a mosquito and be actively involved with others in easing the burdens and enriching the world.
When we each contribute even a small but important part, together we are able to accomplish something much greater. Again Elder Ballard said, "Great things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands 'anxiously engages in a good cause. '" If we were to think about each child who would receive one of these wish pillows and learn of their individual stories and situations, I don't think we would be able to hold back the tears. What a beautiful experience it is to know one can contribute a small portion and have it mean so much in the end. Truly the bees are a great example of how people can thrive together as they collective work to achieve a common purpose. Isn't if funny that merely being busy doesn't accomplish the same goal as working busily together. "It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted." (Mary O'Connor) I don't know about you, but I much prefer to be a bee than a mosquito and be actively involved with others in easing the burdens and enriching the world.
