Where Is the Love?

This is a issue that has been weighing on my heart for a few weeks now and I felt pressed to share my thoughts on this topic.

Everywhere I look lately I have seen ones I love and care about, with heavy hearts and burdens that seem too much for them to bear. I feel like we are in a spiritual war, and those we are fighting for don't even know it! Their hearts are chained by the devil's temptations and though they continually search, the void is always there, and their souls always feel empty. It pains me and makes my heart ache for these people, these children of God. I feel they have been blinded by what the world values so much that they can not see their true value. They are beautiful, amazing individuals that can't see how truly amazing they are! It's almost as if this battle is a game of tug-a-war. My question to myself lately, "If so many people are hurting, how do we lift each other up?" If we are fighting our own battles, how do we have the emotional and physical energy to encourage and give others strength and support? For me personally, it always comes back to prayer. I feel there is nothing stronger than talking personally with God. I have felt very encouraged after praying and knowing that God hears my cry for these special people, comforts and brings me peace.

Has life always been this hard, or is it the time that we are living in? I feel like everyone is just doing what makes them happy because that is what both our society and schools teach. That right and wrong are relative and what may be right to one person may not be right to some one else. What happened to absolute truth!? If we are all going by our own book, then how are we supposed to be on the same page or working towards the same goals with our children and our families? It’s frustrating and sometimes I feel like I’m in a heard of cattle trying to get out alive. It kills me to see people I know and love falling victim to drug addiction and self destruction.

Another question I’ve had is, “where is everyone’s joy?” My dad has taught me two very valuable lessons in my life that I will take with me and try to practice as I continue to get older and raise my children. The first, “to be content at where you are and who you’re with, don’t always go searching for the next big thing.” In other words, “be present in the moment.” And the second valuable lesson, “you can’t change how others feel about a conflict or situation, but you can change how you feel.” In other words, take responsibility for your part and don’t whine or pout. Try to see the positive in the circumstance and learn from it! I feel like a big part of the reason as to why we as Americans go searching for happiness is because we have not yet found happiness and joy within ourselves. We always think, “if I have this or that, then I’ll be happy.” But it goes back to the children’s book “The Giving Tree”. We take and take and put our wants and needs first and are never satisfied.

My last big questions, “What if we as individuals put others needs, others feelings, and other people before our own? If we were all working to help each other, lift each other up, put others first, can you imagine how joyful, positive and uplifting our world would be!? In other words, if we served like Christ, gave our lives for others and looked at every single person like a child of God, what a place of love we would live in?

Food for thought: My challenge for myself, to live as God would live, and to love as God would love. I’m not perfect, nor do I claim to be, but I am tired of just existing and being frustrated by the sadness and devastation going on around me. Every single person can create change. You are never too small and never too late! I think it’s perfectly said in a quote from Gandhi, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”