Dear John

I should be studying right now…or sleeping (sleep is good). Instead, I’m going to write about John. Yes, John is a real person. And yes, that is really his name.

About two weeks ago, we met by chance.

His smile was sweet and his speech genuine. I was hooked without knowing much about this new-found stranger.

The only thing is…we knew we wouldn’t ever happen.

Let me explain.

This realization came quickly when he asked if I drank alcohol or did drugs (jaja…I’m not kidding). When I answered: “No”, he let out a “What a shame” and stated that “we would not work out” because he “indulged” in both.

We laughed about that and carried on as if we had known each other for years.

Somewhere along the way, John felt impressed to give me his two-cents about living.

He asked me to get out of my comfort zone, and to go meet authentic people. He asked me to be careful because not everyone was capable of loving wholeheartedly.

He told me to travel.

He said I reminded him of his mother (whom he is very fond of). He said we’re both beautiful, smart, fun, and sincere.

John believes that her and I deserve the best because our devotion is unmatched. We would much rather have One fully committed human, than the attention of 200.

His kind words resonated within me. This John-guy hadn’t known me for 2 minutes, and yet, he felt the need to protect me and my unseen beauty.

John retaught me something great; that I am worth the wait.

Dear John, thank you for your unfeigned love.

Truth

Symposium on Religious Freedom

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Last night’s speakers brought up very thought-provoking points, and there were two in particular that resonated within me. One was concerning Diplomacy (just a fancier way of saying “Love thy Neighbor”), and the second was about the positive energy that Truth brings.

The first speaker said that “in the little things we are different, but in the big things, we are all the same.”

If we took time to really know one another, we would love more fully. I believe that if we earnestly tried to see the world through Heavenly Father’s eyes, we would accept everyone for who they really are; our brothers and sisters. We would come to realize that in the grand scheme of things, our differences are of little importance.

The topic of Truth also sparked my interest yesterday evening.

From a very young age, I’ve been pretty great at discerning situations and people. I must admit that I have second-guessed and flat-out doubted my intuition in the past, and needless to say, those situations never ended well.

I know when someone has the intention of using me. I know when I’m being lied to. I know when someone doesn’t trust me. I know when I can and cannot trust someone. I know when something is simply…not right.

Just as the speaker described last night, it’s an energy that can be felt, and quite hard to describe, but almost impossible to shake.

Truth brings comfort; it fills your entire being with peace. There is truth in the creations we experience daily. There is truth in sincerity and in doing things for the right reasons.

Eternal truths will always remain constant in a world that’s ever-changing.

As a Sister and Friend

When I pray, I tell my Heavenly Father everything.

I tell Him of all my awkward encounters, and worse, my reactions in said moments. I outline for Him exactly how I felt from beginning to end.

I tell Him of the things that made me smile throughout the day. I tell Him of the things that brought me low. I tell Him of my little or grand accomplishments, as well as my ever-present failures (I see you).

I express gratitude to Him for the moments we are so quick to deem “coincidental”.

I thank Him for the people in my life.

I say a prayer for acquaintances that pop into my head as I pray, even if I don’t really know them at all.

I pray for my family; both immediate and those scattered abroad.

Without the Love of our Savior Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, the commodities we take for granted would not be available to us.

Because He Lives, we are blessed with the opportunity to pray as often as we’d like. Because He Lives, I am not afraid to approach my Heavenly Father with the burdens of my soul. Because He Lives, I feel confident in my Heavenly Father’s love for us His children. Because He Lives, I can speak to Him as a Sister and Friend.