Love

Today  as I was reading in the Holy Bible, in the Book of John, Chapter 3, verse 18 I came across a very interesting scripture.
Now, before you look it up and before I comment on it I want to rewind a little bit.

I have been wondering lately why it is SO DIFFICULT to make friends, and not just that, but why, in a city full of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is it so hard for ME to find a friend. At first I thought it was because everyone 'fakes it until they make it' but as I read this scripture it suddenly came to me. The scripture reads as follows:

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue only* ; but in deed and in truth."

* see the New King James Bible, Joseph Smith Translation in the foot note.

It occurred to me that verbally, I am a very gushy person. I gush about how much I love so-and-so and I am so happy to see them and I would love to stop by some time, blah blah... and outwardly we are all very friendly, but perhaps the issue is with me (since I am the only one that I can really judge and change, let's look at me). Even though I tell people that I love them and I care for them, doesn't mean that I am really caring for them. There is a woman in my ward who has really inspired me. When she talks to people, she uses their name, she lights up, she is interested in their life and asks specific questions, she doesn't say "Oh, I love you so much!" But her actions, her smile, her eyes, they all say how much she loves and cares for them.

When you love someone it's not enough to say, "I love you," but you have to show it as well. I can't say, "I love you, Jake" and then ignore him all day, sit around and do nothing and let my house fall into progressive filthiness. He would feel very unloved!

I would say that it is the same with all of God's children. It's not enough to express the desire to be around someone or, care and concern for those that you visit each month, but you need to be actively thinking about their happiness and well being, rejoicing when they rejoice, mourning with them as they mourn, and sometimes, as necessary, showing up unexpectedly and performing a good deed.

Oops. My baby just woke up. I have to go get him, he's been screaming at me lately, experts say it's because I don't give him enough attention. Le sigh. :) So it's back to being a mom. Next time I write, I'll write in the evening so I can put more stories of Bentley, a few pictures and a video.

We love you!

Hope you all feel better soon!

Courtney