Back in the elementary days, I remember my mom taking me to Target (or some place of the like) to pick out valentine cards to give out to my classmates. The decision was always crucial. You wanted to go with something fun, clever, containing a hint of cuteness, but not too overbearing! And unless you wanted to be teased, anything with "Nick Jr." characters on it was a definite "no-go".
Yes, I would dare to say that Valentines Day is stressful for even the little ones. Not only was there the stress of giving out your valentine cards, but there was the pressure of receiving a valentine from everyone else in the class as well. "Wait, Sally didn't give me a valentine...Does she not want to be my friend anymore? Is she gonna kick me out of the 'Harry Potter reenactments club' at recess now!?!? No! I make a great Hermione!!!" And once I got a little older, and it was no longer the thing to distribute valentine cards, "candy grams" were thrown into the mix. As if it isn't bad enough to not receive a candy gram from anyone, but do you have to deliver 8 to Sally right in the middle of class? Haha.
Despite the content of my last two paragraphs, I don't hate Valentines Day at all! Sure, it can be awkward at times, but it really is such a fun day! I appreciate the love and friendship that is shared and noticed on this day! I'm grateful for my mom, who likes to make heart shaped sugar cookies. for my dad who always buys flowers for my mom, and who has kept the tradition of buying me a valentines teddy bear each and every year (I have quite the collection...haha). I'm grateful for my brothers who...uh...well...I'm sure they love me and don't hate me... In general, I love all the love that is shared on this day!
So, what is LOVE?
No, not "baby, don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more."!
Is love what we see in the movies? Is love taking a bullet for someone else? Is it just something we say? Is it really liking someone, but only when things are smooth sailing? Is it proven by giving our older brother a back massage? (Scott seems to think so).
When I was little, my mom used to read my brothers and I a story book by Robert Munsche. To this day, it is still a favorite of ours! It is called "Love You Forever".
The story starts out with a mother holding her new son in her arms, rocking him back and forth singing:
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
The mother continues to sing this song to her son throughout his life. Even with the craziness he brings during his various stages and phases, she takes the time to express this love. This continues until the mother herself becomes old and ill, and the son is able to drive out to her house, rock her back and forth, and sing the special song.
This story has always warmed my heart as I've though about the immense amount of love that this mother had for her son. Now that I'm older, it reminds me of the love that my mother and father show me, even though I am no where near perfect.
Over the course of the past year, I've had the opportunity to experience two challenges that have caused me to feel very unloved at first, but then have grown into a "proving" of how loved I am. The first was an especially challenging time in my life, and I'll admit that I had never felt so broken-hearted or completely shattered. Even though that doesn't sound too comforting, I couldn't be more grateful for that time, and for the experience I was given. During that time in my life, I learned how much I really need Christ. I have always believed in Christ, and loved him, but during that time, I felt my trust an faith in the Savior grow, my gratitude overflow, and felt his enabling strength fill my soul. I know He lives, and that He never leaves us alone. He is peace. Christ's love says "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always."
Many months passed by, and Heavenly Father's plan for my life continued, with new challenges and opportunities. Then came the 2nd heartbreak. I tried to be calm, but it was hard to accept that something like this was happening again. Before I had the chance to tell anyone of my news, my mom walked into my room. Once she saw my face, I knew that she knew what was happening in my life. She held me in her arms while I let out some tears. She even sent my brothers up to comfort me and make me laugh. That night, I remember my dad looking me straight in the eye and reassuring me that I was a beautiful Daughter Of God. Even though my heart now felt empty again, the way that my family cared for and uplifted me at that time seemed to say "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always."
Throughout my life, Heavenly Father has sent me little messages of "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always." He has sent it through trials that have helped me grow and given me experience, and he has sent it through the many joys of my life. He has sent it through things that are deep and personal in me, and he has sent it through the people I meet in my life. He has also sent it through his Son.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Christ was the perfect example of love. His love knows no bounds. This love of Christ is true.
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
The story starts out with a mother holding her new son in her arms, rocking him back and forth singing:
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
The mother continues to sing this song to her son throughout his life. Even with the craziness he brings during his various stages and phases, she takes the time to express this love. This continues until the mother herself becomes old and ill, and the son is able to drive out to her house, rock her back and forth, and sing the special song.
This story has always warmed my heart as I've though about the immense amount of love that this mother had for her son. Now that I'm older, it reminds me of the love that my mother and father show me, even though I am no where near perfect.
Over the course of the past year, I've had the opportunity to experience two challenges that have caused me to feel very unloved at first, but then have grown into a "proving" of how loved I am. The first was an especially challenging time in my life, and I'll admit that I had never felt so broken-hearted or completely shattered. Even though that doesn't sound too comforting, I couldn't be more grateful for that time, and for the experience I was given. During that time in my life, I learned how much I really need Christ. I have always believed in Christ, and loved him, but during that time, I felt my trust an faith in the Savior grow, my gratitude overflow, and felt his enabling strength fill my soul. I know He lives, and that He never leaves us alone. He is peace. Christ's love says "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always."
Many months passed by, and Heavenly Father's plan for my life continued, with new challenges and opportunities. Then came the 2nd heartbreak. I tried to be calm, but it was hard to accept that something like this was happening again. Before I had the chance to tell anyone of my news, my mom walked into my room. Once she saw my face, I knew that she knew what was happening in my life. She held me in her arms while I let out some tears. She even sent my brothers up to comfort me and make me laugh. That night, I remember my dad looking me straight in the eye and reassuring me that I was a beautiful Daughter Of God. Even though my heart now felt empty again, the way that my family cared for and uplifted me at that time seemed to say "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always."
Throughout my life, Heavenly Father has sent me little messages of "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always." He has sent it through trials that have helped me grow and given me experience, and he has sent it through the many joys of my life. He has sent it through things that are deep and personal in me, and he has sent it through the people I meet in my life. He has also sent it through his Son.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Christ was the perfect example of love. His love knows no bounds. This love of Christ is true.
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Wherefore, my
beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never
faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all
things must fail—
But charity is
the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found
possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." (Moroni 7:45-47).
Charity is the most important kind of love we can every give or receive. It is the foundation for the kind of love that states "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always". I am so grateful for the many times in my life that I have received this love. I receive it on a daily basis. I receive it through Christ, I receive it through my family, I receive it through friends, I even receive it through complete strangers. Am I giving as much as I receive? Better yet, am I giving more?
I hope I can always remember to be charitable in all I do. I know it changes lives, because it has sure changed mine. Charity can be given to all. It can be shared in our friendships with others, it can be shared by the way we communicate with strangers, it can be shared when we choose to love those who may have hurt or disappointed us, when we choose to laugh things over instead of getting upset at someone, and it can be shared within our intimate family relationships. Jeffrey R. Holland talks about the need for a Christlike love in our intimate relationships in his talk "How Do I Love Thee?". http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=326
I wish everyday we would remember to express love as we do on Valentines day. I guess it's just like Christmas, how we focus so much on the Savior during that time, but Christ should be a focus everyday as well. I am so grateful for all the love I have been shown in my life. Even the small little acts of love have made the hugest difference in my days.
So Happy Valentines Day everyone! Don't forget to tell and show someone "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always."
-Nicole :)
* I would like to point out that I have nothing against Sally. She is a fictional classmate.
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