Make Me A Spoon!

I heard this poem once in Young Women's a long time ago. It's called "Make Me A Spoon"

All silverware is made to serve, but the different pieces serve in different ways.
 

Forks stab.  "This is mine," they say.  Bits of meat, carrots, pickles, salad and cheese.  "This, this and  this are mine," says the fork. "Everything for me, me, me."  And soon every last morsel on the plate has been pinned by the spear of the selfish fork.
 

Knives cut.  "Too big," says the knife.  Slice.  Cut.   Chop.  Dice. Everything must change its shape to satisfy the whim of the knife. Nothing is right as it is.  Everything needs paring down, carving or separating.
 

Spoons serve:  cereal, soup, peas -- all the impossible foods can be handled comfortably from the
smooth bowl of the spoon.  Spoons say, "Here, let me help you.  We can manage together." 

MAKE ME A SPOON, LORD!

I don't know about you, but often in my prayers I ask the Lord to guide me to someone that I might serve. There are many quotes and scriptures about losing yourself in service to overcome your own troubles. Having tested this theory early in life, I knew after my husband passed away that it would work again. I needed opportunities to serve others, I wanted to be a spoon. Opportunities are everywhere, we just have to look for them and follow the Spirit. One thing I have learned in praying for opportunities, if you are serious about wanting to serve, then you need to act on the promptings you receive.

I don't know why the poem about silverware stuck with me. Maybe it's because I have met people that are so concerned about themselves that they don't stop to see the world around them (Fork People). I have also met people that are never happy with what they have and always want things to change or people to change to fit their needs (Knife People). Then there are the earthly angels (Spoon People). You probably know many of them. Spoon People always uplift and never cut you down,  they will drop everything to help someone, even a stranger. They are people who are OK with a phone call in the middle of the night just because a friend needs a listening ear. Spoons are a great metaphor for service.

I had an opportunity one day after work to be a spoon. I was leaving work later than usual and as I was walking out of my building an older gentleman stopped me. He seemed distressed and very embarrassed. He was struggling financially and had some medical issues. The more he explained, the more embarrassed he became. He was very quick to say he was not requesting money, but asked if I would be willing to buy him a sandwich because he hadn't eaten all day. I agreed to buy him dinner and started walking toward the cafe inside my office building. The poor guy was very embarrassed that he was asking for help and asked if I would get him the food and bring it out. I went in, bought him food, and brought it out to him. I also told him about the Bishop's store house and suggested that he go there and they might be able to help him. He kept thanking me for my kindness and further explained that he had been praying for the Lord to guide him to someone that would help him.

I haven't seen that man back on the Plaza outside Temple Square. I don't know what led him to Temple Square. I don't know what happened to him after we parted. What I do know is this, that morning I had prayed for an opportunity to serve someone in need and my prayer was answered. I was able to offer a ray of sunshine to someone who had been pleading for help. It was a simple thing to buy a stranger a sandwich, especially compared to the sacrifice the Savior made for each of us. I am so grateful that the Lord was able to answer my prayer and give me a chance to serve a stranger. I had a chance to be a spoon. What will you be?