When I consider how my light is spent

My favorite poem is John Milton's Sonnet 19: On His Blindness. It's the line "God doth not need either man's work or his own gifts; who best bear his mild yoke, they serve him best," that gets me every time. And I understand that the Lord does not need me, but I need him.

This week's lesson in the home centered church supported Come Follow Me curriculum is King Benjamin's address. He speaks to his people on service and what a blessing it has been for him to serve his people. He reminds his subjects that he is like them, "subject to all manner of infirmities in body and mind." He has labored to serve them and has not asked for riches in return. He famously tells his subjects, "I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17

I really can't say if me posting prelude online helps any of my "fellow men," but I know it keeps me practicing so that when we again meet together, I will be able to play my part. I need to serve my God any way I can. Each time I play prelude, I feel my love grow as much as if I were bearing testimony of My God and My Savior and their infinite love for us. Below Milton's sonnet is my prelude for this week.

Sonnet 19: When I consider how my light is spent

BY JOHN MILTON

When I consider how my light is spent,

   Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

   And that one Talent which is death to hide

   Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

   My true account, lest he returning chide;

   “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”

   I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need

   Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best

   Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed

   And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest:

   They also serve who only stand and wait.”