"A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."
~Arabian proverb
I am blessed to have such friends and family members. I have posted many times how fortunate I am to live where I live. To live among people who are kind, loving and Christlike.
I was reading a talk by President Uchtdorf last night. Some of his comments are so applicable to my friends. I would like to quote him.
"To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal with real life. The test comes in practicing what we proclaim. The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives - as husband or wife, as father or mother, as son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and in our recreation. Christlike attributes include knowledge and humility, charity and love, obedience and diligence, faith and hope. These personal character qualitites stand independent of the organizational status of our Church unit. Christlike attributes are gifts from God and cannot be developed without His help."
"To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal with real life. The test comes in practicing what we proclaim. The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives - as husband or wife, as father or mother, as son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and in our recreation. Christlike attributes include knowledge and humility, charity and love, obedience and diligence, faith and hope. These personal character qualitites stand independent of the organizational status of our Church unit. Christlike attributes are gifts from God and cannot be developed without His help."
My friends are not perfect, but they strive to live Christlike lives. They know what love and charity is and they live it. There is a feeling of security living among these people for come what may, we help and lift one another.
President Uchtdorf continues: Christlike attributes are the basics. They are the fundamental principles that will create the wind beneath our wings. As we develop Christlike attributes in our own lives, step-by step, they will "bear [us] up as on eagles' wings" (D&C 124:18). "
These lovely people bear me up. I have learned more about kindness, acceptance and unconditional love through my associations than through any manuel. It is the actions and example that teach. How could I been so blessed to build our home and raise our wonderful children here 37 years ago? To raise a family, to learn and grow from the example of people such as these?
2 comments:
What a wonderful place to live with such good friends. There is an old saying, "to have a friend, be one." Just knowing you, I am sure this is why you have such good friends.
Great post - and I agree 100% you have great neighbors and friends.
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