Socks from God

Many of you may already know, I have a younger brother who is currently serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He has been out since November of last year, and is serving in the Atlanta, Georgia mission, Spanish speaking.  Thanks to the blessings of the internet and technology, I, and other family members, are able email with him once a week.  

Every Sunday night I send off my email to him in Atlanta, and wait anxiously for his reply on Monday.  When I see his responses in my inbox, I almost do a happy dance, and stop whatever I am doing to read it.  I love to hear about his work, the people he is meeting, and how his Spanish is coming along.  I have always had a special love for my little brother, so my email correspondence with him is so precious to me. 

However, I realized today, as I was reading his email, that I was being selfish keeping his emails all to myself.  His emails bring me so much joy and encouragement that I should share them with anyone who would like to hear from him.

This particular week, I received a larger group email, than in the past.  When I opened it at work, (thank goodness on my break), I was in tears within the first few lines of the email.  My little brother was showing me what the “pure love of Christ” looked like in action.   He showed me that service is love unconditionally for strangers that don’t even know your name. 

Below I have copied his own words, exactly as I received them.  I hope this inspires you to reach out and serve someone today.

“So I just want to write this email and share a experience I had last week . so we just got out of an appointment and were on our way to the car and this lady called us and we turned and saw her and walked to her and she was really having a hard time,she lives in a shed and has not much money at all and she asked us if we had any food with us and we didn't so we said no. We felt really sad and then she asked us if we happened to have any extra socks with us in our car and we then replied no again ..as we contuined to walk to the car about half way i had the impression to take off my socks and give them to her..so i thought that maybe i was just thinking crazy thoughts or something so i didnt do anything..then before we got to the car i felt the same feeling and i knew it was then the spirit telling me to do it..so i then took off my socks and my companion  did the same didnt think it was weird or anything but love for her. So we walked back to her shed and gave her the socks and she looked at us and smiled and asked where did you get these socks?? and we said God loves you and provided us with some extra socks for you..she then asked are these yours off your feet? we thought she was gonna say they stink or something..but we didnt say anything and she asked us to pull up our pant legs so she could see if we were wearing any socks. we didnt she said things like this make me want to cry. she knew for some reason we gave her socks from us. all she did was say thank you soo much now i wont have to sleep with cold feet anymore in my shed. She said i always new something was nice about you mormons and she said there was always just that love..I just then got into the car and both me and my companion thought how crazy something so simple can mean soo much to someone else. We then went over the next day and she was soo happy to see us and we gave her some food and more socks.

I just want to say that that story i will never forget the day we came home with no socks. Maybr sounds a little funny but it means alot to serve and im greatful to help out here on the mission.

Ofa Atu

Elder Taufa “

What stood out to me from his experience was not that he gave his socks to a stranger, but was that he recognized a prompting from the Lord, and followed it; no matter how strange it may have sounded at the time.  Each of us have the opportunity to figuratively provide "socks" for Heavenly Father's children. Each day God prompts us to do little acts of service for our fellow brothers and sisters.  Whether or not you heed the promptings through the Spirit is up you.

Matt 25: 34 - 40

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.