In a book entitled, “Try giving Yourself Away,”  David Dunn  writes, “Like most people, I was brought to look upon life as a process of getting.  The idea of giving myself away, came to me quite by accident.” The author then explains  how he found a painting and sent it to a friend in need.  He then writes, “It was thus I made the important discovery that anything which makes one glow with pleasure is beyond money calculation, in this humdrum world where there is altogether too much grubbing and too little glowing.” 

Just like the piano, baseball, and riding a bike one needs to exercise charity in order to make it become a part of one’s daily life.  A great example to me of every day charity to me is my late grandpa, Karl Davis.  I went to my grandma’s house to talk with her about my grandpa.  She pulled out a very large filing box filled to the top with letters from neighbors, ward members, missionaries, and countless other people.  Dozens and dozens of letters shared stories of and expressed gratitude for my grandpa’s quiet service.  One letter written by a member of his singles ward wrote, “I don’t think you would ever find a more devoted and dedicated bishop.  What he gave to us all was selfless sacrifice.” 

My grandma then showed me another box that was filled to the top with letters to grandpa from missionaries.  Over 40 years ago he started a mission preparation class in the Bountiful Central Stake.  It was so successful that the Church asked him to help them develop a missionary preparation course that was then used throughout the Church.  He loved others and he loved missionary work, because he understood the blessings that come to both the missionaries themselves and to those they serve.   Grandpa’s love of others and of missionary work was so well known that when he died, clients of his made donations to the Church’s missionary department in his name. 

Elder Holland was my mom’s home teacher when she was young and a good friend of her family.  Elder Holland said about my grandfather, “I think it’s arguable that Karl Davis did more to touch more lives—I really believe this, I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t—I think it could be argued that Karl Davis did more to touch more lives in a constructive and in a noble and wonderful way, members and non-members, young-and especially young-with the elderly, than any other man or woman in this room.”  Elder Holland also said, “Karl put more people through missionary preparation course than any man in history.”   

In 1 Corinthians 13:4 we read, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.”  My grandpa never asked for recognition, he never flaunted his good works.  He did it because loved others.  He did it because he knew that to whom much is given, much is required.  Moroni states, “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” Long after my grandpa’s death, my family is still hearing new stories about my grandpa’s life and his good deeds.  It has always been a personal goal of mine to live my life as my grandpa had lived his, someone who is compassionate, devoted and always looking to help others. 

Walking down an unmarked way

Lots of roads marked by sun rays

I go down one and feel unright

I hesitate at one without a light

Standing in the middle of a crossroad

I get confused and feel heavy under the load

I turn one way and another

I am lost and begin to shudder

About to give up I see

Someone running up to me

Panting he calls out

“We need you too,” he shouts

“Thank you for rescuing me,” I say.

Unforgotten, I go down the lit and marked way