Loving Thy Neighbor

Last Sunday in RS meeting, I was a little frustrated, because I hate when RS lessons are so generalized that no one every talks about the elephant in the room. The lesson was living what we believe.  I got all bothered by the fact that we talk about this stuff, and yet one goes to church and sees/hears things that (hopefully!!!) we wouldn't say in front of nonmembers, our families, etc. Like: One Sunday, I was walking in the parking lot and I heard a woman telling her spouse he was a stupid, stupid man. (In front of the kids!) Or the women who have been unkind to Shari, Amy, Becki - because of divorce or because they have no children. Or the woman who said to me, "My grandson plays better than you do." "Why are you always playing at church, you're not even any good at it????" (My response was, "Will your grandson come and play for me next week. I WOULD love it if he could!)

Anyway, I was disturbed and so made a comment how maybe we should start living our beliefs not just "out in the world" but maybe at church too. AURGH.

So Sunday morning 3 a.m. I couldn't sleep. (What IS it with that?) I was studying the lesson for yesterday's meeting "Love Thy Neighbour As Thyself." Wait, I have to back up. Nola called me on Saturday (my lovely neighbor mother=O) and I was telling her about an experience I had had with someone who was making comments and assuming things about me that were untrue. She reminded me that this person does love me, and probably didn't mean it the way it came out, and that I could be offended but it would be a waste of energy. I could just laugh about it and let it go. (My weakness, hard to laugh at stuff!)

Back to Sunday morning, I'm reading the lesson. Randy is asleep. I am in awe of George Albert Smiths 11 item Creed of Living and also his general appreciation and genuine love for everyone. How does he do that? Anyway, he says the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love ALL of God's children. (I believe this in principle...how do I get there?????)

Then I had an aha moment. This thought from a sermon of Ralph Waldo Emerson came into my mind, "In judgement -- we expect! In love we ACCEPT."
My job isn't to judge -- it is to lift.

All pride/offense/anger/fear leads us to the dark side (Yoda had that right!)  Acceptance and lack of judgment leads us to the light!  I WANT THE LIGHT!

President Smith: "I know some that I wish would behave themselves a little better than they do, but that is their loss, not mine."

I was brought up short. I realize that all the "little stuff" that hurts people, will not hurt me, if I do not let it. And - I need to cut people some slack. Just because I'm at point H and 1/4 doesn't mean that Sister _____ is there - she might be only on D. Line upon line.

I am ashamed that I let myself get caught up in the trivial things. I love my friends, I hate when they hurt and thoughtless people make them cry. But then, maybe I am thoughtless too. Before I went to bed, I said, "Heavenly Father...I am SO sorry. I am a twit. But I will do better, I promise."

My job is not to judge -- it is to lift. I need to post that on stickies and put them everywhere. I can do this.