July 22, 2011

It's all about LOVE--(aka Charity never faileth)

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I have a lot going on in my head today (a little more than usual).  Just thought I would jot it down.

Yesterday was a hard day (see here).  I had to get out.  Rob got home from work and I took off for the store.  I was feeling quite irrationally irritable and needed a sane (uninvolved) thought mediator.  I called my mama.  I told her about my rough day and asked for her advise.  I told her how frustrated I was with _________ (I think I called him child XYZ in my other post) and expressed further remorse because a lot of his issues are a result of the last four years from HELL (and all the trauma I put him through).

She expressed her sympathies and then proceeded with good, sound advise (which is why I love her so much.  She's very good at seeing both sides of it).  She reminded me that while my concerns were valid, the thing he needs most from us, as parent, is LOVE.  "He just needs to be loved," she said.  "Go home and just love that boy."  This was the answer I needed and I knew it as soon as she said it.  Isn't she great?

I decided to rent a movie for Rob and I to watch after the kids were in bed.  I really needed a night to relax.  There wasn't much available so I ended up picking one I had neither seen nor heard of before.  It was a not rated,"Lifetime" made for television movie, about a very religious mother who was not happy with choices her son was making.  She pushed and pushed and pushed him away, refusing to accept him for who he was, until one day he committed suicide because he felt so alone and isolated.  The rest of the movie follows her through a journey of acceptance and love.  I didn't care for the whole movie (in fact we flat out skipped some parts)...but i was really intrigued by it's message.

Hence all the thinkin' (sometimes I get tired of being in my own head)....

Just like mama said...It's all about LOVE.  Christ taught this as well.

Everything he taught...His life...His ministry... everything He's given us ....life ...eternity ...salvation ...redemption ...forgiveness ... the atonement...everything, revolves around LOVE!

We are taught in the Bible:
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Leviticus 19: 18)
"walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us"  (Ephesians 5:2 )
"relieve the oppressed"  (Isaiah 1:17
"love ye your enemies"  (Luke 6:35 )

(Charity-being the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection;  the pure love of Christ--Bible Dictionary)

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind (1 Corinthians  13:!4) 
"let all your things be done with charity (1 Corinthians 16:14)
"above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness"  (1 Colossians 3:14)
 "charity shall cover the multitude of sins"  (1 Peter 4:8)

In the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ:

"all men should have charity, which charity, is love"  (2Nephi 26:30)
"charity is the pure love of Christ"  (Moroni 7:47)
"except ye have charity you can in nowise be saved"  (Moroni 10:21)

In the Doctrine and Covenants:
"clothe yourselves with the bond of charity"  (D&C 88:125)
"let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men"  (D&C 121:45)

Let me say it again....I believe LOVE is EVERYTHING.

I know that sometimes it's easier to talk about than to do...believe me.  I know.  I KNOW!

But what is our purpose here in life?  To become like Christ.  He is perfect.  We are not.  But we can try.

Because we are commanded to "above all things, put on charity" (sourced above), I believe this is the most important place to start if we are to become like Him.  I also believe that as we strive to love (others and ourselves) as Christ does, everything else will fall into place.

So who does Christ love?  Everyone.  EVERYONE.

Christ loves the sinners, the thieves, the adulterers, the liars, etc.  He loves the Jews, the Buddhist, the Christians, the Athiests, the Muslims, etc.  He loves the heterosexuals, the homosexuals, the murderers, the child molesters, those who are pure in heart, and those who's hearts are as black as night.

He loves those with mental illnesses, low incomes, addictions and less than savory jobs.  He loves those who have excess weight, ragged clothes, frizzy hair, bad teeth, and no social skills.


He loves EVERYONE and has perfect mercy on all of us. 

He does not ask us to judge one another (that's HIS job), despise one another, exclude one another, condemn one another, or abuse one another.

He only asks that we follow His example.

I love this primary song:  Jesus said love everyone, treat them kindly too.  When your heart is filled with love, others will love you.

Only He knows us perfectly.  Only He knows what seen or unseen circumstances have shaped us into who we are and who we have become.  Only He knows why we have made the choices we have made.  Only He knows our thoughts and can see into our hearts.

We can pray for one another...and more importantly, we can pray for ourselves that we might be able to see others as the Lord sees them, so that our bowels may be filled with charity towards them and all mankind. 

Does that mean we have to agree with a lifestyle, a choice, a sin, a person.  No.  In fact, you can love someone without liking them.  :)

Have you ever heard the phrase, love the sinner not the sin?  

Is that possible?

Yes!  It is...I know it is.

I have prayed for it...I have felt it.

I'll end with this thought...

Christ once said..."Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  (Matthew 25:40)

So...in this circumstance I think he would say, in essence, You can show your love to me by showing your love to others.

The end...my brain is spent....

Whew...it feels good to let that out.

Any thoughts?
forMMM

P.S. Leave a comment! I love to hear from you!

5 comments:

DancingPrincessDesigns said...

You're amazing, Melly and I love what you're doing here! Keep on keepin' on, sis!

Mom of 12 said...

I love that song! Jesus said love everyone... you have no idea how often we sing that in my house. We used it tonight for FHE.
Sandy

Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

Beautiful post! I needed that today. Your mamma is very wise. :)

Melanie said...

She is wise, isn't she? I love her. Oh...and thanks for the comment. I'm glad I could help.

Ali Raza said...

“Charity never faileth.” May this long-enduring Relief Society motto, this timeless truth, guide you in everything you do. May it permeate your very souls and find expression in all your thoughts and actions.

I express my love to you, my sisters, and pray that heaven’s blessings may ever be yours. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

~Umair Iqbal
1love org

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