Sunday, January 9, 2011
Dear Cora,
There are two people that I know but would very much like to get to know better. This first person is someone I know very well, but haven't always had the best relationship with. Who? You! I address this record to you because it is you for whom I am writing.
You are a beautiful young woman, though you don't always believe it. I love you for exactly who you are even though we don't get along sometimes. I want to come to know and appreciate you the same way that I would a best friend. I want to support you and help you understand God's great love for you.
The second person that I want to get to know is my older brother, Jesus Christ. I want to build a personal relationship with my Savior. I want to earn his friendship the same way I want to earn yours.
I know that I need to trust him to guide me. I realize that trust is really hard for me, but I also understand that trust, like faith, is a choice. I am choosing to trust my Savior to succor me. I choose to accept Father's plan for me because I choose to trust his love for me and his desire for my happiness.
I truly believe that agency is the greatest gift my Father could give me. This summer I learned bluntly that attitude is a choice. I'm starting to understand how many things are.
I choose to be someone better today. To me, that is part of the beauty of the atonement. If I don't like who I was yesterday, then I don't have to be that person today. Every week, as I take the sacrament, I am a slate being wiped clean. I am free to fill it with whatever I choose.
I know that's drastically simplified but I still think it is true. I've never liked being labelled as anything or judged for actions other than my own. By trying to live each day as though it were my first, I don't have to feel tied to others' opinions of me.
I don't advocate being irresponsible or flighty and I don't mean to sound like I do. Of course I need to maintain responsibility for my choices and actions, I just choose to always do/be my best every day regardless of past mistakes.
Sorry Cora, I suppose I've strayed off topic a bit. This is really meant to empower you and remind you of your potential. I want to remind you daily that you are God's daughter. The same indescribable perfection and eternal glory lies dormant in you.
Please, please, please, choose to realize that potential. Feast on the scriptures. Pray with all fervency and diligence. Trust your Savior and your Father. Become the woman, spouse, mother, and friend that They know you can be. That I know you can be.
You are going to accomplish things you can't even comprehend right now. I'm so excited for your future. I love you and I know you will choose wisely.
Love,
Cora
There are two people that I know but would very much like to get to know better. This first person is someone I know very well, but haven't always had the best relationship with. Who? You! I address this record to you because it is you for whom I am writing.
You are a beautiful young woman, though you don't always believe it. I love you for exactly who you are even though we don't get along sometimes. I want to come to know and appreciate you the same way that I would a best friend. I want to support you and help you understand God's great love for you.
The second person that I want to get to know is my older brother, Jesus Christ. I want to build a personal relationship with my Savior. I want to earn his friendship the same way I want to earn yours.
I know that I need to trust him to guide me. I realize that trust is really hard for me, but I also understand that trust, like faith, is a choice. I am choosing to trust my Savior to succor me. I choose to accept Father's plan for me because I choose to trust his love for me and his desire for my happiness.
I truly believe that agency is the greatest gift my Father could give me. This summer I learned bluntly that attitude is a choice. I'm starting to understand how many things are.
I choose to be someone better today. To me, that is part of the beauty of the atonement. If I don't like who I was yesterday, then I don't have to be that person today. Every week, as I take the sacrament, I am a slate being wiped clean. I am free to fill it with whatever I choose.
I know that's drastically simplified but I still think it is true. I've never liked being labelled as anything or judged for actions other than my own. By trying to live each day as though it were my first, I don't have to feel tied to others' opinions of me.
I don't advocate being irresponsible or flighty and I don't mean to sound like I do. Of course I need to maintain responsibility for my choices and actions, I just choose to always do/be my best every day regardless of past mistakes.
Sorry Cora, I suppose I've strayed off topic a bit. This is really meant to empower you and remind you of your potential. I want to remind you daily that you are God's daughter. The same indescribable perfection and eternal glory lies dormant in you.
Please, please, please, choose to realize that potential. Feast on the scriptures. Pray with all fervency and diligence. Trust your Savior and your Father. Become the woman, spouse, mother, and friend that They know you can be. That I know you can be.
You are going to accomplish things you can't even comprehend right now. I'm so excited for your future. I love you and I know you will choose wisely.
Love,
Cora
1 comment:
Dear Cora,
I'd like to report on Cora's progress since you wrote this to her, since it seems she hasn't reported back yet. First off- Good news! She has made sincere efforts and progress to get to know you better. She is much more comfortable as herself- regardless of those people, things, or ideas that are around her. As a result of that, she is also beginning to recognize just how valuable she is. Interestingly enough, this also increases her appreciation for her Father in Heaven. What a masterpiece He created!
The second relationship you recommended to her is skyrocketing. She has gotten closer to her Saviour. Even bits of personality she shows that the world might consider to be small are proof of her increased testimony of Jesus Christ and her desire to be like Him. Examples: she takes immense care in helping her siblings, in trying to help them understand their worth. She carefully applies her loving heart so that they know she is someone there to help. She has helped a number of people be introduced to Jesus for themselves. His light shines through her. She understands His will thoroughly. Sometimes she is a little hard on herself still. That reflects her desire to always do the right thing- she needs to understand that she isn't perfect just yet. She's improving daily, and that is what matters. I have watched her refuse to do the things which would hurt her Older Brother, Jesus- simply because she loves Him. She is always striving for the best. For Her best. She doesn't have any desire to Settle for anything, but to reach the skies, to soar into the heavens, and to live in Eternal Glory.
She knows how to be renewed. To be a new, better person every day.
Hopefully this was helpful. I thought you would appreciate knowing how she is doing with your goals.
Love,
A Friend
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