Today at breakfast, Scarlett asked if she could make something for her summer journal. She drew a picture of her teacher and herself at church. Guy joined in and announced that he was drawing a picture of Jesus. I was interested to see how he "sees" Jesus.
I had a special experience yesterday with the spirit. I recently rediscovered a friend on Facebook. This person was a very good friend and coworker of mine about 7 years ago. In fact, he was one of my all-time favorite people. I liked him because he was kind, sincere, and considerate of others, and just a really nice guy, not to mention very good at his job. When I knew him, he was a man, but after a series of painful surgeries, he is now living as a woman.
When I realized what change my friend had undergone, I felt nothing but love for him. I would expect to feel nothing else actually, but it struck me that I felt NOTHING BUT LOVE for him. I didn't feel sadness or pity or confusion. I didn't feel repulsed. Instead I only felt kindness and love for him. And that love felt magnified, as it stood independent of any other feeling one might expect to feel in this situation.
The next day, I was cleaning my bathroom thinking about him...and I felt the spirit prompt me to email my friend and express my love for him. I kept cleaning and the feeling came again, so I put down my work and expressed my feelings of friendship and acceptance to him, and my hope that he was feeling well, in an email.
He thanked me for my words, but the moral of this story for me is not the exchange that resulted, but instead it was the power of the spirit to fill us with PURE LOVE for our fellow men, if we are open to it, if we are praying for it...and at the time when it will make the most profound difference in our lives.
I don't know what my words meant to him, but I know that the Spirit lead me to feel and act the way that I did. I also know that we all need to feel loved for the person we are inside. I try my best to extend that love to others, and it is my wish that the people who know me will love me regardless of things I do or beliefs I hold that might conflict with what they know to be true.
I feel that this experience helped me to see Jesus better than I did before, and I am thankful for it. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." I believe that this pure love also helps us to "see God" or the divine in everyone we meet...and treat them accordingly.
I'm glad you followed your prompting, Jocelyn. The Lord loves all of His children, and he wants us to be a presence in each other's lives. In fact, He needs us to be.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your friend felt the love.
=)
I'm also glad you followed the Spirit on this--and that your heart was in the right place to touch this man's life. This was so interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteI'm sort of just noticing that Guy's depiction of Jesus has him with his arms open wide...deliberate or not...I like the thought of that...
ReplyDeleteI have been there. As a mom, with adult children that have sometimes made different choices, I have learned the meaning of loving without judging, of accepting without condemning. I have learned that sometimes, that gift of love can make all the difference.
ReplyDeleteCool. Probably not what my "natural" reaction would be, but clearly the right thing.
ReplyDeleteThis thought was helpful to me today with a close relationship I struggle with...thanks.
ReplyDeleteI taught a lesson on benevolence today in Relief Society. Oh how I wish this was posted yesterday :)
ReplyDeleteA great example of true benevolence.
Thank you for posting this. It was beautiful. I believe that developing that sort of love is crucial to our existence here on earth. If we could love all people so well, think how many fewer empty chairs there would be at church. Think how many broken hearts could be mended. I love what a gentle message you have just taught. Thank you again. So much.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, you are amazing. Thanks for posting this. I need to do better. I am struggling SO much right now trying to love my father-in-law... it seems impossible. I'm praying to be Christ-like and I appreciate your example. You were inspired to post this.
ReplyDeleteSometimes like you did we must follow the Spirit without knowing the reason why. Maybe you will know one day why you were prompted to write your friend, or maybe you will never know, but the beautiful thing is that either way the Lord's will, will be accomplished because you followed the prompting. Thank you for sharing this experience with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gift. In one of my favorite books "the education of little tree" the author states that loving is understanding and understanding is loving. I think that because you already knew the good heart this man has that it opened your heart to Christ's love. I think so often we don't try to understand people-- we base judgements on our understanding-- and therefore we miss the the love that can come. Thanks for the beautiful reminder tonight!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful post ... It reminds me of an experience I had on my mission -- I too felt the purest love I'd ever felt for this person. (http://livingabigstory.blogspot.com/2010/02/feeling-his-love-for-another.html)
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time on your blog and I have added it to my favorites. I have a query about charity. How do you "accept" someone in their sins? Does charity mean that you accept therefore support their choices? You still referred to the man as "he" not "she". So, what does it mean to "accept" them? I only ask this because of a recent experience in my family of being told that if we do not "accept" my gay son's lifestyle 100% we are out of his life. We love him but cannot support that lifestyle. How do you do it when what someone really means is accept and support their choices or you don't really love them? I am obviously very confused and looking for answers. Any input?
ReplyDeleteHey Donna! Welcome! I don't think I have all of the answers that you are looking for. I'm sure I know one person who does though...You should probably ask Him! :) I referred to my friend in this post as "he" mainly because I haven't yet called him anything else. If I were to see him in person, I would definitely respect his wishes to be referred to as a female. I have had another personal friend who changed genders. It was also a work situation, and to call him anything different would have been very disrespectful in that situation. But again, I think that those are very personal questions and I cannot answer or make a blanket statement. I'm sure that it would be very difficult in a family setting such as you are describing. I guess I would ask you...Is there a compromise that could be made on your part in how you refer to him that would help him understand your love for him? Some way to let him know that you love him either way? It is probably painfully obvious to your son that his life's path is not in line with what he has been taught by his family. Perhaps there is some give and take that can be made to bring you both to common ground. I am guessing that he already knows where you stand...perhaps he needs to be reminded that there will always be a safe place for him in your family? And only you and the Lord can figure out what that is for you...Thanks for this thoughtful comment, Donna. I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteDonna - Hi. :) In answer to your question, I too, don't have all the answers, but I do have a few thoughts that I think may help.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was strugling with choices a family member was making, the lord taught me that my associating that person with his struggles was getting in the way of my relationship with him.
The lord encouraged me to pray to understand him, and to write his name on a piece of paper and surround his name with the many positive characteristics that made him who he is. I was prompted to redirect my mind when thoughts of his struggle came to mind, and to remember that his struggle was NOT WHO he is... it was just a struggle he was experiencing. I hope this helps! :)
I hope you have a great day and a Happy New Year!
Corine :D