Loveliness

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross 

Aren't some people just lovely? This woman is. I bet Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (the author of the quote) was/is lovely. The person who quoted this on one of the many blogs I stalk is lovely. My mother and sisters (including in-laws), grandmothers, aunts and cousins are lovely. I also have a myriad of friends, both those I've known long- and short-term who I would instantly place in the lovely category. Ruth is lovely, and Mary, and Abish, and Nephi's wife, and Marjorie Pay Hinckley are all lovely to me. I also think that loveliness can be found in any person if it's willing to be found.

All of that being said, here is my little confession:

There are many, many days in my life where I would call myself anything but lovely. I see the flaws, the weaknesses, the disappointments, and I convince myself that those words cannot be associated with loveliness and therefore I fall short. 

Then I remember. 

I remember who I am and Whose I am. I remember that this is mortality and I came here to work through these imperfections. I remember that there is One who creates loveliness in my soul because He has borne the weight of my flaws, my weaknesses and my disappointments. I am deeply grateful for this blessing and source of strength. I do my best to remember, but there are many other less worthy things that occupy my mind. I constantly seek for ways to remember. 

So, if you're reading this and you've ever felt the same, please know you're not alone. Life is busy, worries abound. But in all of it, please don't ever forget how very lovely you are.