Finding Comfort

I guess my friend knew that I needed it. I was feeling depressed this morning because of certain events, and somehow, I felt less than my self-worth. When suddenly, I got a pop from Kel, my officemate. Here's what he sent:

kel: It is your HEART that makes you the BEST. You are wonderful according to what you are, not according to what you HAVE.... --anonymous

Thanks, Kel! :)

But more that that, I found truthfulness to these words by James E. Faust:

We find solace in Christ through the agency of the Comforter, and the Savior extends this invitation to us: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The Apostle Peter speaks of “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” As we do this, healing takes place, just as the Lord promised through the prophet Jeremiah when He said: “I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. … I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”

And in the celestial glory, we are told that “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” Then faith and hope will replace heartache, disappointment, torment, anguish, and despair, and the Lord will give us strength, as Mormon says, that we “should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.”

Thanks to these, I'll have happier days. :)

The "L" Word

I don't know why, but lately I've been thinking about what LOVE really means. I know that everyone's got a first-hand experience (whether with a family, friend or significant other) and that it's a topic that been overly discussed and judged. But I just had an intelligent chat with a close friend and she said that one should know that there is a "big difference when you are standing on a hill looking at the flowers below, and when you are actually lying among the flowers". At this point, now that I have got a better view, I could relate to more people when they say that love is all about self-giving. I can't believe that a person is in love without understanding the principle of sacrifice. Loving, sometimes means pain. One famous quote says, "you hurt because you love." A lot of people fear this possibility. But loving, on the other hand, also means enduring the pain, and being willing to sacrifice your own feelings. In that way it is unconditional. It also means putting "him" or "her" before "you". When you've learned to do that, then you have learned to love. But it's a whole lot different from martyrdom as most people conceive it to be. In someway it is, but I think love's got a bigger scope. It encompasses everything. Martyrdom, patriotism, sacrifice, faithfulness, loyalty, patience, etc. - all spring from love. They are considered as best expressions of love. Of course, it is important that as we find love, we should also seek our own happiness and share it with someone who would be willing to share it. That, I think, is the beauty of love.