I am taking a positive psychology class right now and it is so incredibly fascinating I can't stand it! (of course I am a psych geek to begin with so....)
ANYWAYS. Over the past few weeks one of our assignments has been to make a presentation about overcoming obstacles with positive psychology. I have loved listening to these presentations.
One young man did his presentation on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He discussed symptoms, causes, and eventually the healing process. Did you know that the most effective cure for PTSD was support from friends and loved ones? This support includes listening, loving, caring, understanding, talking, observing, helping....so many things, but ALL done by those whom you trust.
As I sat listening to this young man I of course thought about my own battle with PTSD. Yeah it's true. It isn't any secret. With everything we have witnessed in the past year, how would we NOT be suffering? (and besides it isn't like a disease or anything, it's just a different than your average type of stress) As I thought about my ability to cope I thought of the many people involved in the healing process. The more I pondered the more I thought of Christ's Sermon on the Mount when He counsels us to "mourn with those who mourn". What does that mean?
I found the answer illustrated in two examples from my own life just in the past year. The first happened last summer as a friend very dear to my heart suddenly passed away. I was heartbroken. I was anguished. I suffered silently and alone. Even in the midst of other mourners I felt isolated. The day of my sweet friend's funeral, however, I was taught what Christ meant by "mourning with those who mourn." After I wearily made it through the service I was greeted by two of my dearest mission friends who did not even KNOW the girl who had passed. They embraced me with love....not to mention bearing a Dr. Pepper and peanut m&ms. This type of love portrays exactly what the Savior meant. These girls loved ME and wanted to support ME in my time of grief. They came to mourn with me and bear me up as I struggled.
The second example is written in the months of unrequited service given to our family in the past year. Friends, family, and strangers alike all came to bear our burden with us. Meals were provided. Blankets were sewn to lend comfort and warmth. Visits were made to show love and concern. Even though these people couldn't change our circumstance, they undeniably changed our experience. This type of Christlike love filled our family so completely that we could not sit idly by filled to the brim with the blessings of charity. The love shown was so immense that it spilled over into the lives of those around us...the lives of those suffering with their own life changes. We shared of our meals, our blankets and our visits to help lift and encourage those feeble hands around us not because we wanted a "thank you" or some sort of praise. We shared because we had been touched by the love of Jesus Christ Himself and we couldn't NOT share.
Mourning with those who mourn does not mean we need a personal connection to the trial at hand. No, it means that we love and mourn because someone we love is mourning.
Love,
Aubs
P.S. A video I saw a few years ago has constantly inspired me to be an example of the believers. This video portrays the kindness shown to a young woman who has struggled with a life challenge. This young woman has a special place in my heart...she is the niece of my dear friend who passed away last year. The young woman in the video, Brittany, passed away this last week. Her legacy of faith and love will forever remain in my heart.
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/cheering-each-other-on?lang=eng
I found the answer illustrated in two examples from my own life just in the past year. The first happened last summer as a friend very dear to my heart suddenly passed away. I was heartbroken. I was anguished. I suffered silently and alone. Even in the midst of other mourners I felt isolated. The day of my sweet friend's funeral, however, I was taught what Christ meant by "mourning with those who mourn." After I wearily made it through the service I was greeted by two of my dearest mission friends who did not even KNOW the girl who had passed. They embraced me with love....not to mention bearing a Dr. Pepper and peanut m&ms. This type of love portrays exactly what the Savior meant. These girls loved ME and wanted to support ME in my time of grief. They came to mourn with me and bear me up as I struggled.
The second example is written in the months of unrequited service given to our family in the past year. Friends, family, and strangers alike all came to bear our burden with us. Meals were provided. Blankets were sewn to lend comfort and warmth. Visits were made to show love and concern. Even though these people couldn't change our circumstance, they undeniably changed our experience. This type of Christlike love filled our family so completely that we could not sit idly by filled to the brim with the blessings of charity. The love shown was so immense that it spilled over into the lives of those around us...the lives of those suffering with their own life changes. We shared of our meals, our blankets and our visits to help lift and encourage those feeble hands around us not because we wanted a "thank you" or some sort of praise. We shared because we had been touched by the love of Jesus Christ Himself and we couldn't NOT share.
Mourning with those who mourn does not mean we need a personal connection to the trial at hand. No, it means that we love and mourn because someone we love is mourning.
Love,
Aubs
P.S. A video I saw a few years ago has constantly inspired me to be an example of the believers. This video portrays the kindness shown to a young woman who has struggled with a life challenge. This young woman has a special place in my heart...she is the niece of my dear friend who passed away last year. The young woman in the video, Brittany, passed away this last week. Her legacy of faith and love will forever remain in my heart.
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/cheering-each-other-on?lang=eng
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