My Hug gives you Super powers

The other night, Joshua was spurring Isaac to attack me.  At the same time, Asher was trying to save me.  Asher came and gave me a big squeeze and then said, "My Hug gives you Super powers!"  His hugs do give me super powers, they fill me up with love and laughter (especially when we are playing).  What could be more super and powerful?

Life has a tendency to continually define and redefine who we are.  Sometimes the scriptures refer to this as the refiner's fire, or smoothing out the rough edges.  We have moments that seem to, with brilliant force, expose us... either with our weaknesses or with our strengths.  Sometimes both.  Occasionally, it is when we feel weakest that we are the strongest.  For, despite our frailty we keep moving forward, pushing ourselves against or over the insurmountable.  In our sojourn, we sometimes have moments of keen introspection.  We surprise ourselves with what we are able to accomplish and are sometimes saddened with the mistakes which can slowly burden us.  It is not always easy to take a step back in these moment... moments where we see just how destructive a burden can become... and still love and accept this fugitive being.  Often, this is when we find ourselves pleading with God, wishing most fervently to be encircled within His peace and love, as if in an embrace.  In this place, there is divine affirmation and healing of all the wounds we carry within.  Isn't this one of our greatest needs, to be healed and to know that God loves us?  He sees everything about us, our strengths and our weaknesses, but is most concerned with what we can become, who we really are.    It is before God that we are most vulnerable, because He knows who we are... I wonder if we were to stand before Him, like the woman waiting to be stoned... how vulnerable and frail we would feel.. knowing the effect of our sins and that they would keep us from his presence... but he does not condemn us... He knows that we are more then even we could imagine... we are an inner world of intent, desire, and love... souls aching to find safety... burdened with unmet needs...desiring to do and be good.  He knows what we need and how to heal us and give us strength to overcome.  He will light the way, allowing us to see who we truly are.  As we come to know God, we come to know ourselves and see, with His eyes, who we truly are and all the good we are capable of doing.

http://mormon.org/me/3QV2#

Soldier's letter to his Wife

A week before Manassas, Major Sullivan Ballou of the 2nd Rhode Island wrote home to his wife in Smithfeild: 

July 14, 1861
Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days-- perhaps tomorrow.  Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more...

I have no misivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter.  I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution.  And I am willing--perfectly willing-- to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt...
Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with might cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field.
The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long.  And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of the future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us.  I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whipsers to me--perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed.  If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name.  Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you.  How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been!  How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness...
But, O Sarah! if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights... always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.  Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again...
Sullivan Ballou was killed at the first battle of Bull Run
one week later

What we really need is to celebrate love like this.  Mostly, our media encourages a fleeting temporary love... the relationship will only last as long as the brief moments of passion... a year maybe seven... but often not forever.