Charity

Starting on page 110 in Goddard’s book we read about charity and choice. We must choose our actions, feelings and thoughts. We can choose to see others as the natural man does or we can choose to see others the way Jesus sees us. I love the reminder at the end of the page that says “we are all dependent upon His charity.” Having charity for others is not always an easy task or second nature for us, yet we are so dependent on Christ’s charity towards us. Now if that doesn’t at least make you step back and ponder I don’t know what will. I know it caused me to think a lot. I reread that same sentence many times before moving on.

I also love (from page 111) this insight from Elder Max Caldwell of the Seventy that says “the phrase ‘love of Christ’ might have meaning in three dimensions: Love for Christ, Love from Christ, and Love like Christ.” Thinking about charity in these three separate ways helps us see how all-encompassing it is. Charity is the most important quality, it helps us become the closest to Christ we can be and helps us feel so much love from our Savior and Heavenly Father. Our Savior wants all these things for us. The chapter has the words of a beautiful hymn:

“At the throne I intercede; For thee ever do I plead.

I have loved thee as thy friend, With a love that cannot end. Be obedient, I implore, Prayerful, watchful, evermore, And be constant unto me, That thy Savior I may be.”

After all He has done for us, the least we can do is try our hardest to have charity for one another. Elder Caldwell also expresses to us that “charity sustains us in every need and influences us in every decision.” Having charity not only helps us to be more like Christ, but it helps us in our everyday life, in our interactions with others and in making decisions. What a blessing it is to have His guidance in our lives. When it comes to marriage, we must have charity for our spouse and choose to love them first. Waiting for love will not benefit either of you. “Our partners will love us because we first love them”.