More of You, Less of Me

The other day, my companion was sick, flat on her back, not going anywhere type of sick. So I had a lot of time on my hands to think, to ponder, and to take a break. My dad sent me a poem by Henry Drummond, that really made me think. 

I lived for myself, I thought for myself,
For myself, and none beside—
Just as if Jesus had never lived,
As if He had never died.[The Greatest Thing in the World (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, n.d.), 40]

That part stood out to me and made me think a lot, thinking, "who am I living for?" As I sat in our little apartment with nothing to do, some thoughts came to my mind that turned in to words. Words turned into lines and lines into stanzas. Eventually I came up with some deep truth that was hidden in my brain.

I Give my Life to You

"I give my life to You," I say.

As I turn and walk away

From everything I've ever known

My heart begins to sway.

"I give my life to You," I say

As I kneel down to pray

eyes watering as I tell you

of this very, very hard day

"I give my life to You," I say

As I hear my new friend pray

Hoping this time it will lead

To the straight and narrow way

"I give my life to You," I say

As I go up to pay

Kind tribute to your Holy Name

For we have come all this way

"I give my life to You," I say

As I turn and walk away

From the best things I have ever loved

This time I know it will be okay.

(Written by Sister Megan Monson, 2017)

The Relief Society teacher yesterday quoted some mainstream Christian song that was really profound. "More of you, less of me. Make me who I'm meant to be." This is one of the most challenging things about a mission is coming to know that your mission is not about you. It is only about God. 

The Savior once taught:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it”. (Mark 8:35)

The promise a missionary makes when they put that nametag on for the first time is not just for 18 months or for two years, it is a promise of a lifetime of service to the Lord. What an amazing thing!

           

All my Love to you,
Sister Megan Monson