Last week, my daughter Eliza surprised us by inviting her siblings and our grandchildren to come work in our yard — to help their aged parents. Despite many summer conflicts, a small army of the next two generations appeared with tools in hand. In an hour and a half, they cleaned our windows, completely cleaned and mopped out our garage, weeded the flowerbeds, pruned out-of-control shrubs and bushes, sawed firewood and did many more big and little tasks we needed done.
Above, you see 11-year-old Benny, Abe and Oliver (with safety glasses, mind you) cutting firewood. I taught them how to operate the power saw safely. They cut up a pile of tree limbs and had a blast.
As we weeded together, I showed 7-year old Josh how to dig around dandelions so the root comes out with the plant. A couple of days later, my wife was weeding at Josh’s house, and Josh volunteered to help. She said, “OK, Josh, you need to dig under the weeds so you get …” He interrupted her to say, “I know. Grandpa showed me how the other night.”
After s’mores and a short lesson on service, they all disappeared. But they left us a glowingly clean house and yard.
My wife and I really try to befriend and create strong relationships with our grandchildren. However, as I reflected on the great spirit of that evening of receiving service, the profound truth struck me that we had felt especially deeply connected while we worked together — something that no other activity can match. Something magical happens when you help others. We’re going to get more of that magic.
Utah is the national champion of serving and volunteering, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Overall in Utah in 2015:
- 43.2 percent of residents volunteer, ranking them first among the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- 844,023 volunteers
- 75.6 volunteer hours per capita
- 170.36 million hours of service
- $3.8 billion of service contributed
- 64.8 percent of residents donate $25 or more to charity
- 58.8 percent of residents participate in groups and/or organizations (2013 data)
- 77.9 percent of residents engage in "informal volunteering" (for example, doing favors for neighbors) (2013 data.)
These data show we Utahns really care about each other, that we want to help and that the private sector does an amazing amount of good, at both the institutional and the personal levels. Even if the government could afford to replace all of this service, government workers cannot match the kind of love and caring that neighbors, family and communities render each other. The data are compelling, too, about the need for our time, our effort and our money in our state and communities. Social service agencies are crying out for volunteers in hundreds of different places. I guarantee you will be able to find something that matches your time constraints, your abilities, your location and your resources. You might start with Just Serve, which provides an internet platform for volunteers to search for service opportunities and organizations needing help to list their needs. It is a simple, safe method of linking up needs with resources.
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Anyone can be great because everyone can serve.” In equating service with greatness, he echoed Jesus Christ’s teaching that “he that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life (in my service) shall find it.” Matt. 10:39. Indeed, Jesus said that he had come among his disciples as one “that serveth.” Luke 22: 27. Another great African-American, George Washington Carver, said that it is not the outward trappings of success that show real achievement. “These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.”
I am renewed in my determination to serve and to involve my whole family, including grandchildren, so that we can share the joy of serving others.
Greg Bell is the current president and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association. He is a former Republican lieutenant governor of Utah.