Grateful

I just had to share a quick thought about my gratitude for the opportunities God gives us in life to learn to love Him more and to learn to love other people. I've realized that in order to learn to love other people in a deep way, I have to come to love God more and be closer to Him. I have to have a relationship that is such that His love flows through me ... that I get closer to Him and that His love fills me so that I have love to give to others.

I am grateful for the good people God prepares for us to have in our life. Sometimes life seems so unsure, and the outcomes of certain things in our life are so uncertain that we may become afraid, however, God reminded me today of two things. The first was about how to love and it comes from Luke 6 in the KJV of the Bible.

Jesus says, "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye?...and if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye?....and if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? ....But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." 

I love this pattern of love that God lays out in these verses. They are truly holy to me. I love them beyond expression. I am going to try harder to pattern my relationships after this kind of love. 

The second comes from the Book of Mormon from the book of Moroni in chapter 7, verse 16. "For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." This reminded me that I don't have to be able to see all the outcomes, but that I can have faith and trust in the good things in my life at the present time.  

I am grateful for God, a loving family and an amazing boyfriend who bring light and hope and joy to my every day!