When I was 19, my father died in a motorcycle accident. I remember how tender, loving, and respectful the first responders were when handling the situation, and I thought to myself, “I want to be like them. I want to show the same love and respect for individuals, even when they are complete strangers.”
Today, as a firefighter, I serve people in crisis, often on their worst days. When the tones go off at the station alerting me to an emergency, I have a minute and a half to be on my way. Even though I’m moving quickly and my adrenaline is pumping, I remind myself that the people I’m serving deserve my full attention and respect. It doesn’t matter if it’s three o’clock in the morning or if it’s our 20th call in a row—they called because they need help.
I love my job because it gets me outside of myself. That’s what service is: You step outside yourself to be there for someone else.
If I didn’t have my faith, I don’t know how I would process the tragedies I’ve witnessed. Being in the Tabernacle Choir has been a saving grace because it allows me to serve through music and put out positive, beautiful messages into the world. Most of the choir members know what I do, and they notice when I show up to rehearsals feeling a little more depleted than normal. On these days, they surround me with kindness and uplift me, which has been a huge blessing in my life.
I’m also grateful for my opportunities to serve my children as a mother. Being a first responder has shown me how fragile life is, and that lesson reminds me to parent with more intention, patience, and compassion. I strive to show my children that kindness doesn’t have to be big to be powerful—it can be something as simple as holding a door, checking on a friend, or offering a smile. My profession has taught me that people remember how you make them feel long after they forget what you said. So, I try to teach my kids to lead with empathy and courage, even in the smallest acts of service.
Ultimately, I want my children to understand that serving others isn’t about balance; it’s about alignment. I’ve learned that when your heart is aligned with compassion, everything you do becomes service, regardless of the uniform you wear.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the May/June issue of LDS Living Magazine.
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