I am twenty-three and am on the verge of graduating college. I can strike up conversions with people whom I hardly know in my classes. But they are often times more like acquaintances. We may embrace our inner nerd-ness and let our geek show, which I'm very much okay with doing, but then the long hand on the clock reaches the top of the hour and we all go our separate ways. At the end of the semester, there will be many that I will never see again.
Some of my friends, whom I love dearly and have meant the world to me, sometimes seem to cast me aside. I've found that I've become a friend of convenience to many of those whom I hold dear. I'll only be talked to if I'm the only one around or if they have something they need from me. This can be very disheartening, especially when I need someone to turn to, someone to vent to, someone to lean on. I sometimes feel like a ballerina trying to practice in the empty, mirrored room without a bar to hold one to. Or on occasions it's there, but then suddenly it will vanish. I stumble and fall headfirst into the mirror and smash it. It falls like glitter though it crunches like glass.
Do I always have to start the conversation first? It appears so. Then I only get one word answers. Seconds later, silence.
Recently though, I've come to hug onto my sister more, something I feel I haven't been able to do in a very long time. We sit in the halls at the university and just talk. Simple little chats and in-depth conversations. She has a very sweet heart and I hope she finds the best guy in the world to be her companion for eternity. She deserves him--the right him. (So, dude, watch out. I'm watchin' you.)
I've also been clinging onto a scripture. Well, a set of scriptures that has brought me immense comfort. It is D&C 93:45. (If you want context, go to the link provided.) But this verse says "Verily, I say unto my servant [insert your name here though originally it says Joseph Smith, Jun.], or in other words, I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me--"
"For you are my friend..." One of the amazing things about this is the word you. Instead of using "thee" like he had previously, he says "you." You may miss the significance of this if you don't know the true difference between "thee" and "you." I've been told that the English of the King James Bible, prominently translated from Greek by William Tyndale in the 16th Century, is the language of scripture. This is why the Book of Mormon and the revelation of the Doctrine and Covenants is written the way it is, with the "thees" and "thous" and why it doesn't get translated into a more Modern English. The difference between "you" and "thee" is how formal or intimate are you will the person you are talking to? "You" is actually the more intimate term. Over the years it has been almost flip-flopped (crazy how languages change right?)
So when Jesus the Christ "I will call you my friends, because you are my friends..." He's not saying, "Lets be Facebook friends and never talk to one another again." He's saying, "You are my best friend. I will see you every day and I can truly understand your struggles. You can turn to me for anything and I will always be standing next to you."
Jesus Christ is the closest friend you can have. Because of His Atonement (this word didn't exist in the English language until William Tyndale, fyi), He can understand what we have gone through. He suffered "pains and afflictions and temptations of every kin; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon hi their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may not know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:11-12). I know this to be true. My husband knows a lot about me, but not even he knows as much as Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer.
Why am I saying this when it started out as a rant on how it often seems I'm friendless?
I'm never friendless.
One: I have Jesus Christ on my side and He will never let me down.
Two: I have the best husband in the world.
Three: It's sweet when I have to pull away for school and I see my son crying at the window because he doesn't want me to go. (It really warms my heart though I'm making him cry.)
Four: Families are Forever.
Five: I actually have a few friends who do care, though sometimes they forget it themselves. If I do call on a select few, they will always be there for me.
These things, though sometimes I forget myself, are the most important. And we all need to remember them, not just me.
Remember, especially in this Holiday Season to take time and thank your friends and love your family. Not only because you have to, but because you want to and get to. They truly are worth the world.
Do I always have to start the conversation first? It appears so. Then I only get one word answers. Seconds later, silence.
Recently though, I've come to hug onto my sister more, something I feel I haven't been able to do in a very long time. We sit in the halls at the university and just talk. Simple little chats and in-depth conversations. She has a very sweet heart and I hope she finds the best guy in the world to be her companion for eternity. She deserves him--the right him. (So, dude, watch out. I'm watchin' you.)
I've also been clinging onto a scripture. Well, a set of scriptures that has brought me immense comfort. It is D&C 93:45. (If you want context, go to the link provided.) But this verse says "Verily, I say unto my servant [insert your name here though originally it says Joseph Smith, Jun.], or in other words, I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me--""For you are my friend..." One of the amazing things about this is the word you. Instead of using "thee" like he had previously, he says "you." You may miss the significance of this if you don't know the true difference between "thee" and "you." I've been told that the English of the King James Bible, prominently translated from Greek by William Tyndale in the 16th Century, is the language of scripture. This is why the Book of Mormon and the revelation of the Doctrine and Covenants is written the way it is, with the "thees" and "thous" and why it doesn't get translated into a more Modern English. The difference between "you" and "thee" is how formal or intimate are you will the person you are talking to? "You" is actually the more intimate term. Over the years it has been almost flip-flopped (crazy how languages change right?)
So when Jesus the Christ "I will call you my friends, because you are my friends..." He's not saying, "Lets be Facebook friends and never talk to one another again." He's saying, "You are my best friend. I will see you every day and I can truly understand your struggles. You can turn to me for anything and I will always be standing next to you."
Jesus Christ is the closest friend you can have. Because of His Atonement (this word didn't exist in the English language until William Tyndale, fyi), He can understand what we have gone through. He suffered "pains and afflictions and temptations of every kin; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon hi their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may not know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:11-12). I know this to be true. My husband knows a lot about me, but not even he knows as much as Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer.
Why am I saying this when it started out as a rant on how it often seems I'm friendless?
I'm never friendless.
One: I have Jesus Christ on my side and He will never let me down.
Two: I have the best husband in the world.
Three: It's sweet when I have to pull away for school and I see my son crying at the window because he doesn't want me to go. (It really warms my heart though I'm making him cry.)
Four: Families are Forever.
Five: I actually have a few friends who do care, though sometimes they forget it themselves. If I do call on a select few, they will always be there for me.
These things, though sometimes I forget myself, are the most important. And we all need to remember them, not just me.
Remember, especially in this Holiday Season to take time and thank your friends and love your family. Not only because you have to, but because you want to and get to. They truly are worth the world.
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