I Love my Mommy, and I'm not ashamed to say it!

The past several days I have heard several conversations both at work and at local stores regarding “proper” association between people. A man said that he has not told his mother that he Loves her since he was a child because it just isn’t right for a man to show that kind of weakness. Two friends said that it isn’t appropriate to use the word “love” to define them simply because they share the same gender. People have said that they shouldn’t “have” to shoulder the burden of caring for people that they don’t even know. A woman at work said that it is inappropriate to talk about religion of any kind, because someone may be offended.

They are wrong.

I Love my mommy, daddy and big brother. And I am not ashamed to say it! They are my strength, and they give me hope when there appears to be none. With just as much ardor, I Love my friends and their families.

My mother is the strongest woman alive; she has experienced more than her fair share of trials and beat them all. I admire her Love, courage and faith in God. If I could emulate even one iota of my Mother’s Love and desire to keep her family happy and together, then I will be a successful man indeed. I Love You, Mommy.

My father is the greatest example of loyalty, love and protection. He has always ensured that our family is cared for and, even though it wasn’t always convenient, has made sure to spend time with us each and every day. He works hard, even when his body hurts and his mind is weighed down with the worries of life. I admire his example and hope to someday be even just half the man that he is. I Love You, Daddy.

My brother is my closest and most trusted friend. I know that God gave him to me so that I can seek his counsel and be guided by someone that has experienced many paths. He is not perfect, but neither am I. And through our many failures in life we stand together as brothers; which is the greatest bond of all. I Love You, Brother

My brother’s kids are some of the most awesome and intelligent kids I know! The two oldest boys are growing into good, honest young men. The youngest nephew is quite the flirt with the ladies (it seems that every girl he has met is his “sweetheart”), shows great concern and Love for his family, and kicks my butt at video games. They all are fantastic kids, and their parents are good, hard-working people.  I look forward to seeing them grow into their potential as leaders and men of God. I Love each of you boys. Keep up the good work!

Recently, my good friend (he is a brother to me) and his wife had a beautiful baby boy! To them, our parents (the new grandparents), our beautiful little sisters (the new aunts!) and the whole family I say, “CONGRATULATIONS!” They are some of the most loving and well-humored people that I know. I Love you all for your help and influence in my life; every day and in both the difficult and easy situations. I Love each of you, Brother, Sisters, Mom and Dad.

If a man does not have his family and friends, then he must stand with God; and glory be to that man for having the strength to stand by the side of God. But when he does have family and friends, and they all stand with God, nothing can keep them from living full, happy and successful lives; and nothing can stop the work of God from progressing!

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by CHOICE. I am not forced. I Love my God, and I love all that seek Him and His glory. With that in mind, I love all of my friends, and I thank them for the influencial and amazing roles that they have played in my life; the Christians, the LDS, the Jews, the Muslims, the Buddhists, the Atheists, the Hindu’s, the Agnostics, the Anti’s, the Wiccans; the educated, the wise, the un-educated and the “otherwise”; I have learned from each of you. For that, I Love you, brothers, sisters and friends.

If there is anyone that I have omitted, it is not intentional and I beg your forgiveness. My Love goes out to you as well. I am a Child of God; we all are Children of God. I Love you all as my brothers and my sisters; as my friends and family. Every person is special, every person is unique. We all have talents to share, Love to give, joys to embrace, pains to endure and struggles to overcome. Let us share with eachother our good times, and those we would perceive to be bad times. With that in mind, I hope and pray that we will realize that there are people out there that are really suffering –truly suffering. People are starving both physically and spiritually. They are insecure, both emotionally and financially. Recent events in Haiti have once again brought to our attention how important it is to care for one another.

The past few days I have felt rather frustrated with the selfishness I have seen in myself and in those around me. For the most part, those of us in the United States (and other “developed countires) are so blessed to have our homes, access to seemingly unlimited paths of knowledge and wealth, clean water, sanitary living conditions and reasonably accessible health-care. Yet there are those that drink mud because they have no systems to filter their water. They die of smallpox and polio while the vaccine lies perhaps only a few hundred miles away. Even in my own area, I have heard people say that they should not be responsible for the care of another person’s health.

Well, my friends, I have to say that enough is enough. God has blessed us with such potential! A mother of four with a severely disabled child; Should she be told that she cannot work a part-time job because if she does, she will lose all of the health benefits that her disabled child needs and deserves; not to mention that she will not be able to provide for her other three children.  A family of four working hard to pay their mortgage after their Father lost his job; should we just let them fall by the wayside because of hard economic times? The child born into a family that cleans homes for a living; should they receive any less of an education than the rich because they make less money, but have worked twice as hard for their dollar?

No way!

Friends, it is our time to wake up and hear the call! We are meant to care for each other, to uplift each other, to love, assist, bless and feed each other. I Love each of you; each and every one. God has been impressing on my mind how important it is that we take more concern for our own families, for our own friends and for our own communities; rather than expecting someone else, from somewhere else to do it for us. When we have done that, then we are to reach out beyond our local boundaries and assist those that for whatever reason cannot assist themselves.

How much joy is possible? How much healing is possible? How much happiness, friendship and blessings are we able to receive? There is no limit! As we seek out and LOVE each other, UPLIFT each other, HELP each other and BLESS each other by constant prayer for and with each other, we will see the glory of God, and He will take care of the rest.

Let us Love, Uplift, Help and Bless. For if one of us is failed, we all have failed. It is, indeed, all of us, or none.