We are who we are

This picture has really been on my mind lately. I saw it on facebook and of course "liked" it. (I'm so addicted to the little blue thumbs up sign!) But as I was laying down for a quick nap before class I just started reflecting on it and decided this is a subject I'm passionate about. Which is what has led me to writing this blog post instead of taking a much needed power nap. This should say something about how important I think this is because... I really love my sleep. Anybody that knows me will know this. But then, is it possible to really know someone if you've never taken the time to know their past? Everyone has a story. Everyone. It's what has shaped them into being who they are. It's what drives their passions and encourages their fears. Those "skeletons in the closet" create human beings, people, with feelings and emotions. Nobody is perfect. Christ taught us that and he was the one person who walked this earth who was closest to perfection. I feel that people are so hard on each other. But what I wonder is why? Why would we want to make others feel like they aren't enough? That they're inferior? That they're a failure? Have we not all been there? Everyone has something they regret. Decisions they've made that they wish they could take back. Bridges they've burned that can never be rebuilt. Hearts they've broken that they would give anything to mend. We make mistakes. To err is human. We all need to accept that and accept each other. We all struggle from day to day and yet we try to tear each other down for these struggles. It doesn't make sense to me. Why would you tear others down when you know how it feels to hurt that bad? To feel like you're as low as you can possibly get? Just think about those closest to you or those you care about most. Have you ever asked them what they've been through? What made them who they are today? I think you'd be surprised at the answers you get and yet... It wouldn't change your love for that person. What changes when that person becomes a classmate or a coworker? You really have no idea who they are until you know they're story. In all honesty, they're complete strangers to you. It seems like multitudes of people want world peace but nobody wants to look inside themselves and make the change to obtain it. I feel like everybody, no matter where you're at in life, can work on just connecting with people. Take the time to listen to people and let them know they're important. Let them know that everything will be ok. Be there to support them and give them a shoulder to cry on. Take down those walls that hold back your past. You never know who is going through or has gone through something similar to you. Don't judge people for what you think you know about them. Help them to be in a better place than they were, spiritually, mentally and even physically. We all have imperfections and weaknesses. Just like in Ether 12:27 where it says, "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble." It doesn't say so that God gives men weakness to shun and degrade others. We're all God's children and no matter what we do, God still loves us. Just remember that the next time you're in class or at work or just anywhere for that matter. Reach out to people. Let them know that you're there for them. Take the time today to build someone up and support them because everyone matters. We're all God's children. He knows us all individually. He knows everything that we've done. Who we are. Who we can become. And he loves us all the same.

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

-Bill Withers