As Addie struggled to accompany us through our hymn on the piano today, I thought that maybe Steven should be playing, and then I was struck today with a vivid memory of a class I took in the MTC. I was called as a welfare missionary in Bolivia. That meant that for three weeks of my MTC experience, I was in classes with other welfare missionaries, learning some important principles that we could use as we worked with the leadership in the wards and branches we served in and learn about ways to lift the people we served out of poverty.
We talked about the quote, "Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." They added, "Teach him to teach a man to fish, feed a generation." The focus was always to teach the people self sufficiency, in all aspects of their lives.
The only way for someone to learn something is for them to do it themselves. The example that was given was playing the piano. The teachers pointed out that many times a missionary who goes to a backwards place, can play the piano well and the ward comes to rely on the missionaries to play the piano at each meeting. Ideally, we should teach the people how to play the piano and let them do it, even if the playing isn't perfect. This is the same for lessons in church and leadership roles--the best leaders let others have the spotlight. Never should a Relief Society president be playing the opening hymn, giving the announcements, saying the opening prayer and teaching the lesson all in one week. And for sure, a missionary shouldn't be taking over the Relief Society president's job either. A good leader will delegate things--not because they are lazy--but because they know that through service, people grow and come closer to each other and God.
And that was my thought today as we sang the hymn in our home sacrament meeting today. This was a critical principal that I tried to use throughout my mission and in every lesson I taught. The more the investigator shared or spoke or read scriptures aloud, the more engaged they were in the lesson. The same principle applies now as I am a mom. It is hard to remember sometimes--I have to be careful not to focus on perfection. Learning is about doing and the more people get to do, the better for them.
If you think about it, that is Heavenly Father's way. He lets us fumble through this life, making mistakes, learning with each of them. There is no way that we will become perfect in this life, but certainly it is through moving forward that we grow, especially when things are hard. I also know that he will consecrate our imperfect service and through His grace, it will be enough.
