Where's My Happy Ending?

Yesterday, my friends and I had the opportunity to listen to a wonderful man.  His name is Jeffery R. Holland.  He is a leader in my church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).  Instead of our regular block of meetings, he came and spoke to us.  This was a rare, and wonderful experience for all of those who were able to attend.  His words were words of hope and love.  He spoke to the youth of our church and asked them to give a "tithe" of their lives.  Tithe means ten, so he was asking they give ten years of their lives to the Lord.  Specifically, the years when they are 12 to 22.  He said, no other time period in our lives are we making more decisions that will lead us towards our goal of being with our Father in Heaven again than any other time.  We decide the friends we want in our lives.  Good friends who will support us, and go along with us on the path of life.  He said, then when we are 16, we date our friends.  Later in life, we marry our friends.  There is so much truth in that statement.  Kurtis was my friend before we started dating.  That is the time period when young men and women decide if they will go on missions.  He said, "The rest of your life is yours to do what you please with."  He also told our youth, "Don't be stupid."  He actually used those words.  I loved it.  He reminded us that the Lord loves us, and that this is "the chruch of Happy Endings."  I love that phrase.  I love movies and stories that have happy endings.  Who doesn't?  I also loved the young man who spoke before him.  He reminded us all, that "If it matters to you, it matters to the Lord."  God knows what we want.  He also knows what's best for us, but he wants us to get what we want, too.  Sometimes we feel so forgotten, and small, but God loves us.  He loves everyone, no matter what we've done, or who we are.  We are his children, and he could never forget us.  His love is perfect and surpasses my comprehension.  I am far too critical of myself to even begin to understand it.  But I felt the truth in the words that man spoke to us yesterday morning.  He was worth getting up early for.  Because now, I know that I will have a happy ending - someday.

No, this wasn't taken by me. :)