Everyone has a calling. It’s different from having a job, although those for whom their job is also a calling are truly blessed, writes Linda Kavelin-Popov.

Frederick Buechner, an American pastor said, “Your calling is where your deepest gladness and the world’s hunger meet.” The only way to feel genuinely happy is to make a difference by being of service in your own special way.

Personal pleasure is a shallow kind of happiness as fleeting as a passing cloud.

Consider what brings you real joy?

Do you light up a room with your humor and enthusiasm? Can you build something that is solid and enduring?

Do you feel comfortable comforting someone who is lonely or ill? Are you a good listener?

Someone who can motivate and inspire others to give their best?

Why does it matter whether you ever discover your calling or not?

Because discerning your unique gifts in service of others is the key to your own wellbeing -- your physical health and spiritual happiness.

You were brought into the world at this particular time for a reason.

The world has great need for spiritual warriors -- people who have the strength and the will to make this suffering world a better place, people of integrity who do the right thing even when others do not.

Mother Theresa, who worked tirelessly in India with the poorest of the poor said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

Love is the key to making a difference in daily ways: raising our children with love, doing our work with loving care, showing love for our family and friends, helping our community.

Sometimes we get so stressed or distracted, we forget the most basic and most important commandments to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbour as ourselves. (Mark 12:29-34)

Former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Dieter Uchtdorf told the story that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus was severely damaged.

When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored.

Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war.

Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”

Every time you walk into work with a will to minister to others, or give true excellence to whatever you do, or comfort one who is hurting, or are fully present to a child who longs for your loving attention – in these seemingly small ways, you are being the hands of God.

You are the presence of Grace, and nothing matters more.