Learning from others...

Inspired by President Monson. Okay a few weeks ago my church had a women's broadcast, at this broadcast President Monson got up and spoke specifically of charity, loving others and not judging. This truly hit me hard on two specific points in my life. So I've been really trying to change my attitude about people and it has helped a lot. I have found patience and brotherly kindness are much easier when I have a more loving attitude toward them. (It's so funny how that happens).
So I've been holding a grudge against someone. She didn't hurt me, but she has treated my sister poorly for many years. At first I thought it was all in my sisters head. I thought she was just insecure at a young age, but as I've been able to work in the young women's program in my home ward I've seen how wrong I was. I always looked the other way wondering why this person treated me so differently than she treated my sister. It was like she was two-faced. It got me wondering which one of these 'faces' was her true self. Was it the one that was an excellent student, friend to all, kind, and willing to do service for anyone; or was it the one who always seemed to put herself above others, because she was better than everyone else? Never wanting to be associated my sister outside of church to the point of alienation at school or out in public? Making snide comments behind her back and starting rumors that have very little truth if any? This person had always been beautiful in my eyes, both in looks and personality. As I saw this other 'face' she had she looked more and more like the "popular" girls in high school...'fake'.
This seems random to be placed in the same post as President Monson's talk but I promise I have a point (maybe not a good one, but I do have one non-the-less). What I have learned from this person is that I don't want to be perceived as fake. I want to honestly not judge people and love them for who they are, a child of god. But...but I also want to show my family how much them mean to me by defending them. In the last couple of years the way I've felt about family has changed. They are more important to me than friends who come and go throughout life (although I do have some friends that truly are family in my heart :o}).
So the true colors of this person, who has been like a little sister to me, have shown through and I'm glad that my sister is my sister. She teaches me so much about love and patience and enduring crappy circumstances. She still tries to get along with this person even though she makes it a point to make Hannah look stupid or ugly or not talented, but when other people are around, her generous, friend-to-all face comes on and she fools everyone. Well I'm not fooled anymore. And I won't stand for it anymore either, my sister is my best friend and if anyone hurts her I take it personally. I will try to follow President Monson's counsel and not judge others by loving them as God would. I will try to not gossip, because I know that it hurts others. And I will defend others, in a loving way, when they are being talked about behind their back.
So to this girl who has deliberately hurt my sister, I hope that you will have a change of heart and take Presidents counsel to heart as well. Remember that we all are children of God. And remember whose eyes you want to be beautiful in...the worlds or Gods?


You can read President Monson's talk at
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-39,00.html