Changes

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

===='''''[[Love]]'''''====

===='''''[[Love]]'''''====

[[Love]] is a [[word]] in your [[language]] that has as many [[meanings]] as there are [[individuals]] on [[your planet]]. Like all [[words]] such as [[faith]], your [[understanding]] of [[love]] grows as you grow. If there were one "[[definition]]" for the word, it is the definition that was given in your previous lessons and is from [[your text]]. That is, "[[Love]] is the [[desire]] to do [[good]] to others."([[56:10 Truth, Beauty, and Goodness|56:10.21]]) [[Your text]] also emphasizes the importance of a [[parent]]-[[child]] [[relationship]]. The reason is that [[parental]] [[love]] is a [[different]] aspect, a somewhat different [[manifestation]] of love than the [[love]] you have for your [[spouse]] that is also associated with [[affection]]. The love that a [[parent]] has for a child comes closest to the love that [[the Father]] has for each of you; for in [[truth]], you are all sons and daughters of [[the Father]], your heavenly [[parent]]. It is also important to try to come to an [[understanding]] of the distinction between this [[parental]] or fatherly love and [[brotherly]] love, the [[love]] you have for your sisters and brothers. As you go about your daily [[routine]], you have been instructed to look at each of your [[brothers and sisters]] and to try to envision either the [[Father fragment]] within them or [[Michael]] within them. It really does not matter, whatever you [[feel]] most comfortable with is fine. You have been instructed to treat that person in the way you would if you truly sensed that [[the Father]] or [[Michael]] were within that [[person]]. Stop for just a [[moment]] and look at one of your [[brothers and sisters]] in this room. Gaze into their eyes, and [[envision]] that the [[love]] of [[the Father]] or of [[Michael]] is there within them, wanting to be released, wanting to [[flow]] outward. Stop and do this for a [[moment]]. (pause) I [[realize]] that this may seem a little [[difficult]], may seem a little awkward, since many of you may not know each other well. But this is exactly the [[point]]. No matter who you meet in your daily life, [[strangers]] that you pass upon the street walking by, you must begin to [[realize]] that they have this same [[potential]] within them. You may look at someone and you may see that [[physically]] they may not be [[attractive]] to you. You may [[feel]] that they are not particularly bright [[intellectually]], and you might even sense that [[spiritually]] they seem [[asleep]]. Yet I wish to attest and [[confirm]] to you that this [[Father fragment]] dwells within each and every one. As you [[learn]] to [[love]] your [[brothers and sisters]], you are learning to say to yourself "What can I do that would be [[good]] for this [[person]]?" Oftentimes, you want to sit down with them and have them sit at your feet so to [[speak]], and let yourself expound upon all that you have [[learned]] and all that you know. Yet this may be too much. You must start in small ways, a [[smile]], a [[kind]] [[word]], helping them in a troubling situation, doing small [[favors]] for them. You should not underestimate the importance of these [[things]]. While it might seem small to you, again you must [[realize]] that the [[Father fragment]] is within them waiting to [[adjust]] their [[minds]]. When something [[positive]] happens to them, this is, in a sense, [[spiritual]] [[food]] for their own spirit, their own [[Thought Adjuster]], to utilize in helping to [[adjust]] their [[mind]].

[[Love]] is a [[word]] in your [[language]] that has as many [[meanings]] as there are [[individuals]] on [[your planet]]. Like all [[words]] such as [[faith]], your [[understanding]] of [[love]] grows as you grow. If there were one "[[definition]]" for the word, it is the definition that was given in your previous lessons and is from [[your text]]. That is, "[[Love]] is the [[desire]] to do [[good]] to others."([[56:10 Truth, Beauty, and Goodness|56:10.21]])

[[Suppose]] for [[example]] that a [[person]] was having a [[difficult]] day and had many bad [[experiences]], and you give a warm [[smile]] or [[kind]] [[word]]. As you know from [[your text]], a little bit of [[good]] can overcome a lot of bad. Their [[Adjuster]] might be able to [[impress]] upon their [[mind]] or [[adjust]] their [[thinking]] to [[realize]] that no matter how many bad or [[difficult]] things happen in their day, that there are still [[good]] people in the world and that despite all of the [[problems]], [[love]] still [[dominates]]. This can make them have the [[courage]] and the [[strength]] and the [[faith]] to face many more [[difficulties]], many more [[challenges]] in their life. Does it seem somewhat remarkable to you that such a small thing could become so important to someone else? I say to you now that this is [[absolutely]] true. You cannot underestimate the importance of such [[things]] in your life. Is this so [[difficult]] for you to do? Do you have to really go out of your way or be burdened by [[performing]] such small [[acts]] for your [[brothers and sisters]]? Some of you [[think]] you must do great [[things]], but we are here to say it is often the small [[things]] that can be the most important. This is what is meant by doing [[good]] for others. Of course if you get to know them and you have an [[opportunity]] to [[share]] [[God]]'s [[love]] with them, this is also something that you most certainly want to do. But it is pointed out only to make a [[distinction]] that not all situations will be so opportune, that you must look for the little [[things]] and try to do them as best you can. You would be [[surprised]] at how many [[opportunities]] you pass up every day in your life to do these small things because you are more concerned or [[think]] it is more important to do the greater things. Do not make this [[judgment]]. Allow yourself to allow [[God]]'s [[love]] to [[flow]] through you in small things as well as bigger [[things]]. Look for these [[opportunities]] each day. Do not be the [[judge]]. Let [[God]] be the judge of what this person needs and how much they can absorb at a particular [[time]]. As you know, if you are able to do this, and [[circumstances]] would allow that this person would come to know you better, then they might open up to you and ask the kinds of [[questions]] that you want so badly to provide the answer for. This is the [[nature]] of brotherly concern, of [[brotherly]] [[love]]. [[Parental]], fatherly [[love]], is somewhat [[different]]. It goes beyond this step of brotherly love. It adds new [[dimensions]] to it. One of the differences is that as a [[parent]], you are more [[responsible]] for guiding your [[children]] than you are your [[brothers and sisters]]. This is a large [[responsibility]]. All of you who have had the [[experience]] of [[parenting]] know how [[difficult]] this can be at times. What is the right thing to do, how to [[guide]] your child in a way that allows their [[freedom]] and their [[spirit]] to [[grow]], but yet would not put them into harmful situations. These are [[difficult]] assessments, difficult [[judgments]]. [[The Father]] indwells each of you, and the Father is your [[parent]], your guide. He [[provides]] that [[function]] for you. While you do not always [[understand]] that at the time, and while you sometimes move in [[directions]] that you rebel against, you must [[learn]] to follow His [[wisdom]]. You must learn to follow His way. You must learn to [[trust]] His [[guidance]] and His [[judgment]], just as you wish your own child would trust your [[guidance]]. You must admit that having a [[perfect]] guide inside you is somewhat easier to [[trust]] than your own children trusting you with your [[limited]] [[human]] [[judgment]]. But yet, what is your [[desire]] with your [[children]]? Your desire is to [[love]] them, to see them grow [[healthy]], to see them be [[happy]] and to guide them in a way that they will reach their full [[potential]]. This is exactly the same [[guidance]], the same goals that the [[Adjuster]] has for each of you. This is, again, why [[your text]] emphasizes the importance of the [[parental]] [[experience]], because [[love]] associated with the [[wisdom]] [[necessary]] for this [[guidance]] is part of that experience and will help you [[understand]] what the [[Adjuster]] is trying to do for each of you.  

 

 

 

 

 

[[Suppose]] for [[example]] that a [[person]] was having a [[difficult]] day and had many bad [[experiences]], and you give a warm [[smile]] or [[kind]] [[word]]. As you know from [[your text]], a little bit of [[good]] can overcome a lot of bad. Their [[Adjuster]] might be able to [[impress]] upon their [[mind]] or [[adjust]] their [[thinking]] to [[realize]] that no matter how many bad or [[difficult]] things happen in their day, that there are still [[good]] people in the world and that despite all of the [[problems]], [[love]] still [[dominates]]. This can make them have the [[courage]] and the [[strength]] and the [[faith]] to face many more [[difficulties]], many more [[challenges]] in their life.  

 

Does it seem somewhat remarkable to you that such a small thing could become so important to someone else? I say to you now that this is [[absolutely]] true. You cannot underestimate the importance of such [[things]] in your life. Is this so [[difficult]] for you to do? Do you have to really go out of your way or be burdened by [[performing]] such small [[acts]] for your [[brothers and sisters]]? Some of you [[think]] you must do great [[things]], but we are here to say it is often the small [[things]] that can be the most important.  

 

This is what is meant by doing [[good]] for others. Of course if you get to know them and you have an [[opportunity]] to [[share]] [[God]]'s [[love]] with them, this is also something that you most certainly want to do. But it is pointed out only to make a [[distinction]] that not all situations will be so opportune, that you must look for the little [[things]] and try to do them as best you can.  

 

You would be [[surprised]] at how many [[opportunities]] you pass up every day in your life to do these small things because you are more concerned or [[think]] it is more important to do the greater things. Do not make this [[judgment]]. Allow yourself to allow [[God]]'s [[love]] to [[flow]] through you in small things as well as bigger [[things]]. Look for these [[opportunities]] each day. Do not be the [[judge]]. Let [[God]] be the judge of what this person needs and how much they can absorb at a particular [[time]]. As you know, if you are able to do this, and [[circumstances]] would allow that this person would come to know you better, then they might open up to you and ask the kinds of [[questions]] that you want so badly to provide the answer for. This is the [[nature]] of brotherly concern, of [[brotherly]] [[love]].  

 

[[Parental]], fatherly [[love]], is somewhat [[different]]. It goes beyond this step of brotherly love. It adds new [[dimensions]] to it. One of the differences is that as a [[parent]], you are more [[responsible]] for guiding your [[children]] than you are your [[brothers and sisters]]. This is a large [[responsibility]]. All of you who have had the [[experience]] of [[parenting]] know how [[difficult]] this can be at times. What is the right thing to do, how to [[guide]] your child in a way that allows their [[freedom]] and their [[spirit]] to [[grow]], but yet would not put them into harmful situations. These are [[difficult]] assessments, difficult [[judgments]].  

 

[[The Father]] indwells each of you, and the Father is your [[parent]], your guide. He [[provides]] that [[function]] for you. While you do not always [[understand]] that at the time, and while you sometimes move in [[directions]] that you rebel against, you must [[learn]] to follow His [[wisdom]]. You must learn to follow His way. You must learn to [[trust]] His [[guidance]] and His [[judgment]], just as you wish your own child would trust your [[guidance]]. You must admit that having a [[perfect]] guide inside you is somewhat easier to [[trust]] than your own children trusting you with your [[limited]] [[human]] [[judgment]]. But yet, what is your [[desire]] with your [[children]]? Your desire is to [[love]] them, to see them grow [[healthy]], to see them be [[happy]] and to guide them in a way that they will reach their full [[potential]]. This is exactly the same [[guidance]], the same goals that the [[Adjuster]] has for each of you. This is, again, why [[your text]] emphasizes the importance of the [[parental]] [[experience]], because [[love]] associated with the [[wisdom]] [[necessary]] for this [[guidance]] is part of that experience and will help you [[understand]] what the [[Adjuster]] is trying to do for each of you.  

I will stop now, and I will entertain [[questions]] about this lesson or about other [[topics]] concerned with your [[spiritual growth]].

I will stop now, and I will entertain [[questions]] about this lesson or about other [[topics]] concerned with your [[spiritual growth]].

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Q. Norson, it seems to me that it is not [[human]] [[nature]] to [[love]]. It seems as though our [[animal]] [[instincts]] are just quite the [[opposite]]. When we [[resurrect]] and have [[morontial]] form or morontial nature, is it easier, is it more [[automatic]] to [[love]] than it is for us here now?

Q. Norson, it seems to me that it is not [[human]] [[nature]] to [[love]]. It seems as though our [[animal]] [[instincts]] are just quite the [[opposite]]. When we [[resurrect]] and have [[morontial]] form or morontial nature, is it easier, is it more [[automatic]] to [[love]] than it is for us here now?