As soon as we realize we are four years olds in God's eyes, then we can grow. Whether we be ten years old or ninety nine, the disease that tricks us in to believing that we know it all, and deprives us of real life- is pride. It actually puts us at a two year old standing- but usually, we don't know that. We either end up feeling superiority pride- power hungry, the need to be better and higher than all else, or inferiority pride- rebellion and retaliation, decided ignorance, and isolation.
Either way, we climb over, or away from people.
If God wanted us to be tested alone, there would be one human on this Earth at a time. Is that the case? NO! It is through these people around us, that we find the experiences and the progress that God wants us to have.
The other day my favorite group of angels- four senior missionaries, came to check up on our car. (For those of you who don't know, senior missionaries can be found in the form of a lovely husband and wife, whose children are grown) The most adorable phenomenon took place. The two senior-Elders gruffly discussed cars. The two Sisters expressively discussed hair dye. How fascinating- true to their gender roles all the way through, and still so happy!! A returned Senior-Elder once told me "The best part of a senior mission- is I get to kiss my companion!" Such simplicity, such everlasting youth, even the manner of flirtation amongst so many Elderly in the church, is as if they had just met- and found love at first sight! So what defines a senior couples' maturity, their power, their beauty, their prominence? HOW are they so young, so ALIVE?
Love.
Not just any love.
Real love.
Read on.
Their love and endearing nurturing of us youngster missionaries, of the people, of the mission, of each other, and especially of our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Mission President once said, "Your power is in your love." Why did wicked spirits cripple at the Savior's presence, why would a sinful man shirk and hide in the sight of his God, and just how DOES good conquer bad? Because the love of God is infinitely more powerful than any crude, obscene, or destructive evil that can be thrown at us. This love confounds the hateful and empowers righteous desire. It gives life because Christ, and his commandments, are its very definition. It fuels members of Jesus Christ's church who choose to seek him, to feast upon a simple, ever growing, ever peace-enhanced existence amidst utter turmoil. It allows the realities of the Eternities to dawn upon our souls and it answers every yearning and need we could possibly have.
Heavenly Father's gift and sacrifice for US, Jesus Christ, was and is the ULTIMATE act of love. *He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?* Romans 8:32
The covenants we make in this church, teach us how to love.
The covenants we then keep, give us the gift of love... and we become spoiled, overflowing with power and rejoicing in, through, and out of opposition's neverending beatings. The greatest walk our frame has ever known in life only grows greater, and greater...with love. "And THIS is love, that we walk after HIS commandments"
You can know it if you show it : )
