At my little sea foam green distressed table, I sit here and type this with an occasional sip from my black coffee mug. Our lofts apartment only has one floor length sliding glass door where we can get the fresh air and warm rays of sunshine; it's a little cooler but I'm glad to still see sunshine. Blakely is in the back watching her cartoons before her afternoon nap. Her little giggles at the movie echo through our homes walls.
I love Sundays. It's the end to a great weekend and a day to start the week off right. It's the perfect day for me to enjoy the small things that are present in my life. This Sunday in particular is General Conference, I haven't listened to it in probably 4 years and for my mormon followers you would understand the feeling of spiritual bliss that has come over me as I sit here and listen.
One talk in Particular that struck me focused on how the Lord is with us always and knows our needs. I reflect back on all the personal and family needs that my husband and I have gone through in our short road of life together. There always has been an act of saving grace that comes upon our path. Without doubt I know it's a blessing from the Lord.
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
The last talk of the first session was given by our president of the Church, Thomas S. Monson. He read aloud Matthew 22:36-40
36- Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37- Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy god with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38- This is the first and great commandment
39- And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself
40- On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets
Pondering on that, if you love the Lord, love thy Neighbor and if you do not love thy neighbor how can you love the Lord?
He later asked a question along the lines of this- Why is it that the people we love most, are the frequent targets for the unkind things we say?
That question replays in my mind, over and over. What has warranted all the things I have said to my family and husband in the heat of the moment?
What I take from this other than that question being so powerful is that if I Love my family, my husband, my coworker, the random person who has "ruined" my day, as myself and truly love them as myself, that eliminates most room for contention. At least in my life it would.
I'm constantly at a battle with myself and not being completely happy with who I am. Reading books on minimalist living and how simplicity is key, there's nothing that seems to fill that hole within me. After today I feel what I am missing is actual love. Not receiving it but actually giving it- charity, comfort, humility, and understanding. To myself, family, friends, and others outside my comfort zone.
Doing this in todays life seems to be one of the more difficult things for me to do. Todays world has so much to distract you from, it fills your life with materialistic things that you lose sight on the more sincere & complacent things that have been right in front of you all along.
I take this counseling to heart and will apply it to the best of my ability. After all I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.
Happy Sunday and may your week be filled with Honest love for thy neighbor.
Love,
M.