Love

**Please pardon my choppiness in this article. These were things I needed to say, but I could've ranted on for eternity! Thank you!

We've seen the romance movies, we've read the books: love does crazy things to people. In these instances, we are referring to "romantic" love, something I'm too young to feel for myself. But, I believe that all love can do crazy things to people. The love for our family, our friends, even in bizarre cases, our enemies. Because deep down, I believe it is the human nature to love all. People can let us down, they can frustrate us, but they can't change who we are.

When I think about my life so far, I think of first my family. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for them. But the aspect that has been weighing heavily on my mind lately is the older people in my life, our good family friends is you will. Even those people I don't really know that leave such an impact on my life. For instance, every morning my mom and I go to McDonald's before school and I get a smoothie and what not. And every morning, the woman who takes our order always smiles and spreads joy. She says "Have a GREAT day!" and truly means it. By looking at her, you can tell she has had struggles in her life, but everyday she shows up at work and spreads joy to people like myself, who need it most. She is a person filled with love. She truly lives by Christ by her small morning act, that has forever shaped my life. To not see her every morning brings tears to my eyes. If something terrible were to happen to her, I would go into mourning, and it would hit me really hard, yet I don't even know her name. I love her in a completely different way, a way that is lost without a name and is growing each day in my life. You could name it many things: "Samaritan Love," even as family, but she's not.

I strive to love my neighbor each day. And I truly believe I fulfill this most days. (There are times I fall WAY short!!) But there is something about this woman that I cherish, and I hope someday I will gain: her love for life, her love for others, her love for waking up to see another sunrise, her smile, her gratefulness for all the good in her life. I believe that right now is a difficult time in my life. I'm establishing who I am and who I want to be. I want the characteristics that she lives out each day. I want to love and be grateful for all the good that lie before me. I want to wish farewell to greed and bitterness. My values and morals will be tested all throughout my life, but by loving God, I will learn and hopefully make the right choice.

Before I wrap things up, I want to tell you that the way this post ended was not how I planned it to be about from the beginning, but I am speaking from my heart. Sorry for the poor writing! :-)

"For the Lord is telling you, 'the right time is now, the day of salvation is now!'"

May your days be filled with infinite hope.

XOXO,
Sarah Elizabeth