When the shadows come...

When the shadows come, it begins to grow dark.
There are so many paths that seem wrong, so many that are shrouded in mist, so many that seem like they could end you, right then and there, with one wrong step.
Then, to make it worse, one thought leads to another, and they drive you to all sorts of places, dark places, dull places, places of despair and hesitation. Places of doubt.
Of Pain.
And what is it for? What makes life worth living?
Day in and day out, the same routine, the same work, the same scenarios, the same outcome... life can sometimes seem predictable until it just gets dull. Then depressing. You are young
And yet tired of living.
Life sees you in your doubt, in your moment of weakness and takes advantage of it. With merciless vindictiveness, it throws at you hurdle after hurdle, until you become tired of jumping, and then beats you down.

Is it not better to be raised up then beaten down?

Yes! Indeed it is!

You need only look up, smile, and say, "Thank You."
For it is said that thankfulness is the beginning of love.
Power is given to you when you love. You are no longer thinking of yourself. And when you are no longer concerned with yourself, self-pity ceases. Once the self-pity is gone, the dark hold that life has on you begins to slip. You no longer seek to gather for yourself. There is still pain, but once you seek to give to others, what you give is also given to you.

There is only one question that will ever be asked of you.

That question is not "What did you do for yourself?"
It is, "Did you love?"

Did you give today? Did you love?
Were you kind? Were you gracious?
Did you remember to say, "thank you,"?

You have one job. One job only.

Did you love God?

Did you love others?

Look up.

Smile. :)

Don't be sad! Don't be worried! These things are of darkness! It wants to overcome. It has power when you worry about it.

Give to others, give to God, what you seek for yourself, and you shall gain it.
Give to others, give to God what you wish to keep, and you will never lose it.

There is peace to be found in striving for perfection in the simplest things.
It's greater than you, greater than me, greater than all of us. It is what each and everyone of us desire, what every one of us live for.
We live for that which is greater than ourselves.
Never forget what is greater than you. It will bring you peace. Peace is found in those things that will not pass away. The things that stay with you.

From the moment you rise, seek the perfection of whatever you pursue. Whether it be fixing a V8 Motor block, stacking wood, washing the dishes, walking down the stairs, or speaking to your sister, seek perfection.
And there will be peace.

Smile.

Be thankful.

And you have riches beyond imagination.


In peace, and everlasting love,

~KnightRanger
:)