Permanent

There aren’t very many things in this world that are permanent. There are some things that last for a very brief moment — like a kiss; there are some things that last longer than we wish like unwanted permanent marker marks; there are some things that last for a very long time — like the Egyptian pyramids. Almost all things come and go in this world, but there is one thing that can always last: love. Not because it’s easy. Not because we should. And despite all the times we get annoyed by those closest to us, or how much they sometimes hurt us even on purpose, and we them, love lasts when we choose to make it last forever. As unconditional as God’s own being. We choose to love.

Someone once told me that love wasn’t what made a relationship work. Work is what makes a relationship work. And while I believe it is true, that we must work on the relationships we really care about, let me state that I believe that if you’re not willing to work and give in a relationship for a person you “love,” then you don’t really love that person. Because when you really love someone you’ll do all that you can (morally, ethically, and without infringing on their freedom to choose) to make that person happy. Even if that means letting that person go because all that you would do for them isn’t enough for them, then that’s what you do. But if you’re not willing to do all that then you don’t really love them. It’s true that people will come and go in your life. Some people will even betray you. Remember though that Christ said to pray for your enemies and love them that hate you. That doesn’t mean you have to do anything fancy for people who hurt you, but you love them, pray for them, and send them happy, positive energy. Not that it’s easy! It is hard to love! It hurts to love! But it is totally worth it.

No matter what you do, or where you end up, or whether or not I ever meet you…

I believe that before this life we had another one in heaven and we all knew each other there. When this temporary life fades away all we’ll take with us is our memories, our knowledge, and our love (or hate) for each other. I for one, or two, only want to take love with me.

One of the most astounding things I ever heard was this:

We are living the eternities now!

It hit me in the face, even though I’d heard it before, because I’d been waiting for heaven! We shouldn’t be waiting for heaven, for things to be good, to treat people nicely, and to love people in heaven! You also take yourself with you to the next life, and if you’re a mean, cranky old snob, then that’s what you’ll be after death too and you’ll never experience heaven! Your capacity to love and ability to be nice won’t all the sudden drop in your soul when you die. You have to nurture that love and kindness in yourself now. So be nice to people now and treat them with how you want things to be like in heaven and you’ll get heaven here.

In C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce he wrote:

They say of some temporal suffering, “No future bliss can make up for it,” not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. And of some sinful pleasure they say “Let me have but this and I’ll take the consequences”: little dreaming how damnation will spread back and back into their past and contaminate the pleasure of the sin. Both processes begin even before death. The good man’s past begins to change so that his forgiven sins and remembered sorrows take on the quality of Heaven: the bad man’s past already conforms to his badness and is filled only with dreariness. And that is why…the Blessed will say “We have never lived anywhere except in Heaven, : and the Lost, “We were always in Hell.” And both will speak truly.”

The time to begin loving others (and yourself) is now. The time to start experiencing heaven is now. Keep your mind aware for moments of heaven. I experience heaven when I look at the skies that God paints for me. When I’m with my family and friends (and we’re not being all cranky) it’s heaven. When a stranger gives me a smile or does something unexpected for me or I do something for them, it’s like heaven. Things don’t have to happen for you for it to be like heaven. Leaving someone cookies anonymously, or going out of my way to be with friends on just ordinary days, or just cleaning up for my family is heaven too. If you can’t find any heaven moments, YOU MAKE THEM!

You make my life heaven by you just being your awesome self! I think you’re wonderful! 😀

(Gorgeous: +50 awesomeness points for being your awesome self!)