All We Need Is Love

I have felt so compelled to write this morning.  I don't know why.  I guess it's because of the season and the reason for the season.

It's seems like lately there have been so many things going on in my life.  I am enrolled full-time as a student; I'm a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and sister-in-law; and I'm involved in my son's school PTO.  I never thought I would be doing so many things at one time.  I feel like I'm being pulled in more ways than one. 

As a student, I feel compelled to be the best, to perform the best, and to succeed.  As a mother and wife, I feel so inadequate.  I've let the dishes and laundry go.  If not for the wonderful person, I now call my friend, who comes and cleans my house, it would never be cleaned.  As far as the PTO, I have felt liked I've helped and then feel like I haven't done enough.  I think in all of these things we feel the need to be more than what we can be.  We want to perform at the top level in our studies.  We want to be the golden mother who is able to sew a quilt, make breakfast, dinner, and lunch, get out all of those Christmas cards, buy the best presents for your child's teachers for Christmas while remembering everyone in your life with a small gift as well and all doing this at one time.  Along with all of this, you want to be in the best social groups you can, because you know this is the only chance your child will ever have at being recognized in the school for what they can do or ever know what is going on in town.  You want to be able to see family and make everything right for them in their lives as well as love everyone around you - even that person most people don't want to even be around (because most of the time, I feel like this is me).  But, does all of this really matter?

I have been reflecting over the last weeks about the 20 babies who were killed in Sandy Hook.  I think about what our priorities are in life.  So many people want to look down on others.  So many people don't fit in even though they are "in".  Does it really matter what social group you are in?  Does it really matter how much money you make?  Does it really matter if you even have a home or if you are living with someone else just to get by?  Does it matter if you want to be more in your life or is it ok to be content with where you are in life?  Does it matter if you were able to take a huge trip for Christmas or if you just made a meal and stayed home with family?  And why do we always feel like we have to keep up with the Jones?  When the truth is, the Jones are trying to keep up with someone else.  Is it good just to be happy with who you are and what you have or do you have to "keep moving forward" and getting the biggest, latest, and greatest in the world?  As I reflect on this Christmas, I look at what it important - people.  My 9 year old son said it best the other day, "I can't wait to see our family.  That's what's important."  Yes, it is the people in our lives that are important.  Don't let anyone ever make you feel less than you are, because underneath all of the clothes, cars, money, and social groups is a person just like you.  They came into this world with the same type of body you did.  They came into this world and breathed the same air you do.  They came into this world and are just like you. 

Now, Jesus came into this world.  He didn't have a great place to lay.  He didn't have clothes or a nice hospital to be born in.  He came into this world with the same body you and I have.  A body that knew hurt and pain.  A body that felt disappointment and heartache.  He was a carpenter.  Now, my dad was a carpenter.  He worked everyday from daylight to dark.  He would come home tired and ready to rest from lifting wood and hammering nails all day.  I'm sure Jesus felt this way sometimes.  I'm sure he came home ready to do nothing but rest.  Jesus came into this world to save the world.  What do we do when we come into this world?  Do we come to condemn people for what they don't have?  Do we come into this world to make a difference?  We all came into this world the same way, and we will all leave the same way.  But the difference is what?  How much money we have?  What car we drive?  No, it's what we are going to do for those around us.  Are we going to shun someone because they don't have the same amount of money or social status as we do?  Are we going to love the unlovable?  Jesus did.  He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  Does that mean money and wealth?  No, that means peace and love for each other.  Do I go to school to reach some social status or be labeled as a teacher?  No, I am a college student, because I see boys and girls who need someone to come in, see what they know, and help them to understand everything better.  Am I a mother, because I want to be able to fit in to this group that so many other women fit into, and often leave those who don't have children out of?  No, I want to love my children and teach them to love others.  I want them to try and change the world with what God has given them to do.  Am I a wife because I want to be - well, yes, I am a wife because I want to be.  I want to have a husband and love him and he love me.  Now, do I work in the PTO because I want to met a social status?  I want to change my son's school and have everyone involved.  I want to see all parents come into our school with pride that they have some part in making the child's education better.

Now, what does this have to do with anything?  We need to love each other.  We need to look at each other through eyes of only a Savior could.  We need to be able to put aside the luxuries in life and see people as people.  Yes, people are mean, and no we don't have all of the same ideas about what should be done, but we are all the same.  We came into this world the same, and we will all go out the same.  Whether we are in a pine box or in the most expensive casket or monument available, we all will die.  Now, what will you do what the in between?  The moment between your birth and your death.  Will you love others or will you only look for what you can do to get ahead?

The families of Sandy Hook Elementary are mourning the death of their children.  Do you think they are really concerned about how much money they have?  Do you think they are concerned for what they will be doing next week at the school PTO?  Do you think they are concerned about the value of their home or the car they are driving?  They are only concerned with the loss of a child they will never see again this side of Heaven.  So many people are asking why something like this could happen.  Do you think it's because of gun laws or the mentally ill or because of a learning disability?  No, it's because somewhere along the way someone forgot to show the love of Jesus to someone.  Maybe it was the killer's mother or father.  Maybe it was a teacher or a friend.  May he didn't make the grade or reach what he thought was the place he needed to be in life.  Maybe he was made fun of for being "different" when the truth of the matter is that none of us are truly alike in our minds.  We were all raised and influenced by different people.  If we all were influenced by the same people the same way, we would all be the same. 

We just need to pray and ask God to help us to love others as He'd love them.  Yes, there are things we need to stay away from, but we can love people and be concerned for their souls.  We need to love people.