All Around

It just seems to me that I have so much love to give away recently but hardly any for myself. I find it so easy to love others and I am always compelled to hug my closest friends but I can't seem to love myself as much as I should. I will admit that I am a lot better now than I was last year but it's a daily struggle to look in the mirror and tell myself that I'm beautiful and lovable. It helps to know that I have a heavenly Father who loves me but at the same time I found that I also needed love from people around me. Thank God, He knows what He is doing with our lives. I have a friend in school named Nathan and he is an absoloute cuddle bunny. And that is what we call each other, oddly enough. He's like a younger brother to me and apart from encouraging me, he makes it a point to hug me at least 10 times a day in school. I gave him advice regarding issues he has been having with his spiritual life and his liking a girl in school and in return he has been doing more for me than I can ever say. Friends like him and Rie and David make it that much easier to get through the week. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed it just helps to know that I have them. God puts people in our lives for a reason, don't take anyone for granted. Last night I was at Rie's place and I kept thanking God for her and David and I kept thinking how blessed I am that my parents are alive and well. I am so blessed that I have even lived to 17 without any major health complications.

Just to be able to walk, talk, breathe, it's amazing. Sometimes we're so busy going about our lives that we forget to stop and stand. Just stand. Look around you. Take a deep breath. Forget all your problems for a minute and thank God for life. If you listen carefully, you'll hear God's music in everything. God is everywhere of only we choose to see Him. Don't believe me? Look at a rose. Perfectly soft petals all shaped to fit perfectly together. Smell it. Can a human make anything quite as wonderful? It's God. Sunsets are like God throwing His arms open and embracing the Earth. Sunrises are like a gentle kiss to wake the world. How much do we take for granted? Simple things fascinate me so bear with me a while. Think about water. It's not quite a solid and yet not quite air either. Ever thought how amazing it is? It's there and yet you can't quite grasp it. It's just one of God's amazing miracles. Now that I've finished rambling I ask one thing of you - stop and stand just for a moment and take in the world. Drink it all in and see God. He's everywhere and we are so blessed that He is.