Haleigh-Washed the Blood Out of My Hair

 

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2014

Haleigh-Washing the Blood Out of My Hair

On my way home from the Mayo Clinic, I was thinking about the day after I came home from the Hospital. I called Haleigh and asked her if she would mind coming over to my house and washing my hair for me; she said, "I'd love to do that for you, mom," as she washed the blood out of my hair in the kitchen sink, I could smell the blood. Haleigh was careful not to get water in my ear; it was a challenging task. I reached up to help move my hair over and out of the way of the water, and a chunk of hair fell into my fingers. Tears immediately filled my eyes; I wrapped my hair in a towel, went upstairs, and tried combing through it, but clumps were falling. Two days later, still a huge chunk, I asked about it, and I was told that the amount of anesthesia I was given during such a long surgery sometimes affects patients by their hair falling out.

 I have thought about Haleigh washing my hair that day so many times --it was such a small act of service, and knowing my daughter, she has not thought about it since. Sometimes those tiny acts of kindness are the ones that mean the most to me and to others; those are times when I think of the Savior teaching us.

Matthew 22:36-39 A man asked Jesus, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus replied:  Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it, Thou Shalt love they neighbor as thyself" Charity and service are the pure love of Christ; when we can serve others even in little ways, it shows our desire to be more like HIM. Sometimes those acts of service are complex and can stretch us to places we may not feel comfortable. But I believe in all of us there is Charity, a gift from God. He has given it to us and expects us to act upon it. When we can do it with a willing heart, it shows we are trying to be more like Him and have true Christlike Attributes.

I don't think it was an easy task for Haleigh to come to my home and clean blood out of her mother's hair, but I was grateful she did it. Showing these Christlike Attributes helps us to gain the potential to become more like HIM. When we do it with a pure heart, avoiding negative feelings, judgment, and criticism, it is easier to understand another person's point of view, strengthening our faith and developing a life of service and charity.