My Personal Role Model

     Firstly, I want to apologize for not posting for a couple of days. I have been transferred to downtown Nashville. It is pretty intense going into a new area, but so far it is turning out to be one of the best experiences on my mission thus far, and I've only been here for a couple of days! Today, as I was looking over earlier posts, I decided to modify one of my them ("I'm trying to be like Jesus") that had a real impact on my life.

     As always, I have found myself pondering about life and its deeper meanings. As I was pondering, the words of a favorite primary song came to mind called, "I'm Trying to be like Jesus". Here's the song:



                       I'm Trying to Be like Jesus

1. I’m trying to be like Jesus;
I’m following in his ways.
I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

2. I’m trying to love my neighbor;
I’m learning to serve my friends.
I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.
I try to remember the lessons he taught.
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:

Chorus
“Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.”

     Although I had sung this song many times in my life, this time it really hit me. As I repeated the words in my mind, I thought about treating others the way I would want to be treated, but even moreso, being the kind of person to others that I would want others be to me. As I thought about that, I realized that I am a lot different than others, and that things that don't bother me, bother others, and visa versa, so using myself as a reference point for how to treat others probably wasn't going to work too well. Also, when I tried to use myself as a reference point, I found myself thinking about me too often, which kind of defeated the purpose of trying to think more about others and what not. So, I then asked myself, "What would be a good reference point to use then, if not myself?" Then the answer came with clarity as kind of one of those "duh" moments. Jesus is the PERFECT reference point in how I should act, and who I should BE.




      I then remembered a talk during General Conference and decided to go read it with my companion. "What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?", by Lynn G. Robbins. The majority of the talk is focusing on BEING like Jesus. It was perfect.
     As I continue to learn more about my Savior and all He did for me, I continually find myself rededicating myself to truly becoming like Jesus in not only all I do, but all I AM. I want to strive each day to follow Christ's admonition to be even as He is, and to treat others as He would. I know there is great happiness and in that. Truly the Savior is my own personal role model.