I went to the funeral of my uncle Max last week. I've visited with him quite a bit this last six months, and gotten to know him way better than I had. He's my mom's cousin really. He was raised in a rough family where there wasn't a lot of love or kindness. He had a rough upbringing.
In school these last two semesters, I've been able to feel the spirit more frequently. I think that's due to having everything in school show a connection to Jesus Christ. He is in all things. It's not like going to school at the U or Weber. Scriptures are used all the time. It's really amazing, because it also has shown me more ways the scriptures apply to our lives today.
Last semester I was able to finally understand what it means when people say, "I love all of you, and I don't even know you all," at the end of their presentation or talk. It's this feeling of wanting everyone to be happy and to feel that they are important and special. Just think of how the world would be if everyone felt and understood their worth. Then when we are faced with trials and hardships that seem insurmountable, we can know that we will get through. Sometimes I think we get caught up in what we want and how we hope things will work out, that we miss seeing that the way they have worked out is how it's supposed to be.
Max always made sure that we knew that he loved us. He'd tell me when I was leaving that he was proud of me. If we could all be a little bit more like Max, we would definitely be better people. Choosing to love and not let the bad from earlier be a part of life. Choosing to love in spite of the bad. Reach out to those in need, and remind them of their worth.
His funeral was a testament for how those abusive patterns can end. Listening to his family talk about him and their relationships was an amazing thing to listen to. There was so much love! It seems like there never was an argument, tension, or conflict of any kind. You could feel the pure love that emanated out of each of them.
I left feeling a greater love for him and for our family, and want to be more like them. What we felt was the pure love of Christ.
Last semester I was able to finally understand what it means when people say, "I love all of you, and I don't even know you all," at the end of their presentation or talk. It's this feeling of wanting everyone to be happy and to feel that they are important and special. Just think of how the world would be if everyone felt and understood their worth. Then when we are faced with trials and hardships that seem insurmountable, we can know that we will get through. Sometimes I think we get caught up in what we want and how we hope things will work out, that we miss seeing that the way they have worked out is how it's supposed to be.
Max always made sure that we knew that he loved us. He'd tell me when I was leaving that he was proud of me. If we could all be a little bit more like Max, we would definitely be better people. Choosing to love and not let the bad from earlier be a part of life. Choosing to love in spite of the bad. Reach out to those in need, and remind them of their worth.
Jesus with children. Photo credit: lds.org
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