"They Might Not Need Me; But They Might"

In the Mormon church, when someone in our ward congregation dies, the ward donates the funeral lunch for the family, usually between 80 and 120 people. In my experience, this is one of the sweetest acts of service we do, as the whole ward contributes to providing this peaceful, healing meal.

One woman has the responsibility of coordinating all the service; in our ward right now this is Crystal. On Sunday she passes around a “sign-up sheet” on which ward members volunteer to help. The day before the services Crystal brings disposable pans to everyone who volunteered to make cake or potatoes. The men clean the building and set up tables and chairs in the gym.

On the day of the services, women arrive around 10 in the morning to cover the tables with white linen and decorate with the centerpieces and table toppers we keep in a closet. After the services, while the family is at the cemetery, the donated food begins to arrive. The ward budget has paid for ham and Crystal has sliced it, covered it in glaze, and wrapped it in foil, ready to warm in the church kitchen ovens. As the women come to the kitchen door with their offerings, Crystal checks off her list: 5 green salads for 20, 6 sheet cakes, 6 dozen rolls, and 6 pans of “funeral potatoes,” the rich, cheesy side dish that is comfort in your mouth.

When the family arrives, the volunteers cover long linen-covered tables with all the delicious food and serve out the cake. The family visits and mingles as they eat the food provided in love. The women keep the serving table full and watch to be sure no one lacks anything. They stand and wait while the family visits as long as they want.

When, little by little, the guests leave the building, always stopping by the kitchen to say thanks, there is more work to be done. Men arrive to take down the tables and chairs. The centerpieces are stacked in the closet once again, and the table cloths are piled up, ready for Crystal to take home and launder. Leftovers are packaged to take to the sick and the elderly in the neighborhood.

At this point, those who have been at the church all day are a little weary. And this is when Kim appears.

Kim works, she has a young family, and she doesn’t much like to cook. But she does get off work around 3. So whenever there is a funeral, this is what Kim does. She shows up just as the rest of us are succumbing to exhaustion. Smiling and cheerful, she sets about wiping counters and washing dishes. She scoots us out of the kitchen as she wields a mop. “You all head home. I’ll take care of the rest.”

She probably only spends 20-30 minutes in her service. But oh how appreciated it is!

I learn from Crystal the great benefits of devoting long hours to service, of putting one’s own needs and well-being aside for a time in order to provide those in need with comfort and sustenance.

And I learn from Kim that even a small act of service can provide huge relief.

So the lesson is to serve. If you are in a position to give freely of time or money or talent, enjoy that opportunity to share.

But if you ever feel you are too busy or too incompetent or too poor to provide service, try to find some small way to help out anyway. Write a note, share a smile, mop the floor.  The little bit you offer may look small to you, but may make all the difference to those you serve.

“They might not need me; but they might.
I'll let my head be just in sight;
A smile as small as mine might be
Precisely their necessity.” 
― Emily Dickinson

“Give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.” (Luke 11:41)