Love One Another

Yesterday, we had an experience that taught me a lot about true Christlike love and what it means to love your neighbor. We were out trying to visit a woman from the congregation that we haven't seen for a while, but she wasn't home. On the way back to the car, we passed by a kind old woman who was sitting out enjoying some sun. I had a strong feeling that we needed to go talk with her and see how she was doing. There were no apparent reasons to, but we decided to follow the feeling and maybe brighten her day. She welcomed us warmly and we began to get to know one another. She invited us to come inside and have some water. Her kindness and eagerness to serve were so refreshing! We met her daughter and son-in-law that she is living with as well. Though we were complete strangers all of a sudden in their home, they were so friendly and inviting! We discussed our faith and compared our beliefs. We shared with them our testimonies of the Book of Mormon and how it has helped us to increase our faith and develop a closer relationship with God. They were very firm in their own beliefs, but so respectful and appreciative of our faith. We had a great discussion with them and felt the Spirit strongly. We were all able to learn from one another, appreciate the common ground that we share, and leave with friendship and peace. It helped me to realize even more how much stronger the world could be if we focused on our similarities and tolerated our differences with understanding and appreciation. It is fine to differ in opinion with others -- in fact it is impossible not to face it at some point in life. What truly matters is how that disagreement is handled. In 1 John 4:11-12 it says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another...If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us." As we love others enough to accept our differences, we learn more about the love of God for His children and find true peace.