"Because I Have Been Given Much"

You know those moments -- those defining moments -- in which you will never forget because of the lessons they taught you?

The house was all yellow, weathered, and blown

From years worth of standing there on its own.

Rooted there from the first pour of cement

It had nowhere to go as time came and went.

It's been in the family for generations, a few,

But it's loved. And it's cherished. But fading? It's true.

Our committee had a goal to find a home to restore,

And through lots of prayers, the blessings did pour.

Broken up into shifts, three days it did take --

With help found in that of the great Sixth Stake. 

We sanded, we caulked, we rolled, and we painted.

We had a will to work that was certainly untainted!

Precarious balancing acts were a regular occurance,

But that's what we give when there's that kind of endurance.

Not only was it a kind, needed, and helpful act,
This was a moment where we made an impact.
Our Spirits did soar with the help we could give.
We made this home beautiful, a sweeter place to live.

Brother Jensen is a talented craftsman, but has lost his ability to speak along with a lot of his dexterity due to a stroke he suffered a few years back. But despite his lot in life, he still continues to use his gift! And his gift has enriched my life and provided me with a constant reminder. He led Taylor and I into his cellar workshop and dumped out a papersack full of tree trunks with the titles of hymns that he carved out of their centers. I sifted through all the beautiful handicraft and found a piece that rang true to my heart:

"Because I Have Been Given Much."

But perhaps it's not the first line of that hymn that speaks to me, but it's the second line that seals my testimony --

Because I have been given much,
I too, must give...