December 9, 2009

Reflecting

I tend to take stock of my life around this time of year. Everything about the Christmas season just seems to make me more reflective, and somewhat sober. (In a non-alcoholic kind of way :)) And lately, it seems I have had some seriously sobering things thrown into my path.

As I was getting ready for work yesterday, I had the news on and it showed the procession of those police officers in the Seattle area who were shot and killed about a week ago. My heart ached for those families. What a difficult thing to face, especially at this time of year.

Then, later that day, while at work, a family came in to find suits and dresses for everyone because their son had recently passed away. It wasn't until a little girl came in later and told me he had killed himself that I realized it was a suicide. Once again, my heart ached for that family. They came in again today to get their respective suits, ties, dresses, etc. The daughter, who couldn't have been more than 15, and is just younger than the son who passed away, was trying on a dress for the funeral. As she looked at her mom, her eyes welled up with tears and she asked, "mom, do you think he'd like it?" In reference to her deceased brother. I stumbled across this scene by accident, just wanting to make sure everything was working out alright for them. I quietly slipped away and tears sprang to my eyes. The pain and sadness in that young girls eyes just tore me apart. Then, as the mother went to pay for all of their purchases, her eyes turned red, filled with tears and she said, "thank you for all you did for us." I almost lost it. I wanted to just hug that woman and tell her it was going to be ok. I wanted to do something, anything, to take the hurt out of her eyes. But, I just stood there, nodded and said, "you're welcome".

As I reflected on the recent events that have afflicted our nation, and on a smaller scale, affected a community and family, I thought about the first two commandments we are given. The first is to love God and have none else before Him. The second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. As those two commandments went through my head, I thought, "If everyone followed those two commandments, every problem that afflicts this world, would be solved." If we all were less selfish and more loving, if we cared more for others and thought less of ourselves, if we put our Heavenly Father's will before ours, wouldn't all the other problems just disappear? As I thought about this, I realized I have errors in my own life that need to be corrected, things that need to be changed. I want to be so much better than I am. And I want all the hurt and the pain to be vanished from this world. I know that won't happen, but I know that if I can be more selfless, and if I teach my future children to be selfless, won't that make a little difference? At least in a few lives?

As this beautiful season fast approaches, I pray that we can all feel our Saviors love for us and that we can strive to emulate His life. What greater gift could we give to our dear Savior than to love our brothers and sisters? May we all strive to be a little bit better in this coming year.

10 comments:

Em and Ms said...

Ashley, this was beautifully written and a great reminder. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Megan said...

Well said. Hopefully we'll see you soon -like at a wedding just after our shared anniversary day and Calaway Christmas party!

Marcus said...

Lloyd Newell just called and wants his script for this weeks show back ;) Well said, you've always been great with words!

ashley said...

Beautiful post Ash. Please ignore your brother's kind words :)

Heather said...

It's a great time to reflect on the year and start anew.

Jill said...

WOW! i feel like i have a lot to work on just to live up to YOU!! I hope ill be seeing you at the Calaway Christmas party!! See you soon :)

tharker said...

I second Marcus' comment. I can totally hear Lloyd Newell's deep and soothing voice repeating these words.

Alison and Troy said...

This painting was done by my uncle Del Parson some time after his wife and two children passed away in a car accident. the neat thing about this painting was that awhile after the car accident Del found the negatives of the photo shoot he took of his wife and baby a few weeks before the accident in the pose of that of mary and the baby Jesus. Del decided to paint a nativity with the pictures he found. the painting helped rebuild his testimony of the savior, and help with the healing process. this is one of my favorite nativity paintings. and this one is very special. Merry Christmas.

ashley mikell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisa Christine said...

What a beautiful post.

Merry Christmas!