TheDiscipleMD

Be it the Olympics, the World Cup, or any other sporting event, or world political event, outside of cheering on the United States,  I always root for Argentina and probably will till the day I die!  Why?

It was over fifty years ago that my father came down the stairs at our house and handed me a letter.  This was no ordinary letter; it was “the letter.” It was postmarked, “Salt Lake City,” and it was from my church’s headquarters informing me of where they wanted me to serve for the next two years.  I couldn’t wait, so I immediately opened it, and I found out that I was being called to ‘serve’ the people of Argentina—specifically, Buenos Aires and the south.

And so it was that I spent the next two years in Argentina, where I first learned to place others in front of myself. It was there in Argentina that I learned the true meaning of service. It was there that I saw poverty and lived among the poor, whom I learned to not only care for but also love.  It was there that I found out what was required of someone who wanted to become a faithful servant of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was there, among those wonderful people, that I became acquainted in a most personal way with Deity. It was also there that the people treated me with such love that I have never forgotten the feeling.  I have a fixed image of looking out the window of my plane with tears streaming down my cheeks when it lifted off after those two years, as I watched my beloved Argentina slowly fade from sight.

Marvin J. Ashton once said:

“A sure way to set our guidelines for that which we choose to serve and learn to love is to follow the admonition of Joshua: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15.)… We serve that which we love. If we sacrifice and give our love for that which our Father in Heaven asks of us, it will help us set our footsteps upon the path of eternal life. Again, I conclude, what we serve we learn to love, and what we love takes our time, and what takes our time is what we love.” (“We Serve That Which We Love”, April GC, 1981)

And so it is that every time I see anything in the news on Argentina, I stop and read it.  I somehow felt some pride in the fact that the former Pope hailed from there. I cheer for them every World Cup. I cheer because that country and its people remind me of good things.  They remind me of a day when I was at my best in serving others. I cheer for Argentina because I love their people and because they loved me. I love Argentina because the saying really is true; we really do learn to love those we serve.

And so it is,  be it the people of Argentina, a stranger, or the neighbor next door, the embers of God, which we all carry, are flamed when we serve others. It is selfless service that ignites the flame of eternal Godly love, which in turn warms the soul and soothes the human heart. So when I even hear the name Argentina, it brings to mind love and touches my soul with great memories, and reminds me that when you serve, you are blessed way beyond what you give.