I would love to be in a world where everyone I encountered made me smile and just proved to me that the idea that God’s light existed in everyone’s hearts. That would be great. It would make following God’s commandments so easy, but loving others isn’t easy.
Even with the love of my life, my husband, I find it difficult sometimes. He does things that get on my nerves. He drives me crazy. He makes me angry. And yet, every day, I find myself choosing to love him.
What I find myself learning is that God doesn’t ask us to act contrary to our nature; it only seems that way because we don’t take the time to contemplate our nature. Most of the time when I find myself having difficulty following God’s commandments, it isn’t because the commandments go against my nature, it’s because I’m fighting against my true nature.
Recently I found myself angry at my brother and I couldn’t find a way to be patient, kind, or understanding like God commands me to be. The main reason I couldn’t do it was I kept seeing my brother as the other. I saw him as something separate from myself and something removed. As soon as I reminded myself that even if he didn’t know it and probably would never recognize it, my brother was part of me, then I realized that being angry at him was pointless. It was as pointless as being angry at my right hand.
When God gave me the message that we aren’t alone. I thought it was a very simple message, but the more I learn, the more I realize that it’s complicated and means so much and several different levels. God doesn’t want to force me to have patience, kindness, and understanding for others. God wants me to feel it because I finally open my eyes to see that we aren’t alone.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
