slytherinking2069

[slytherinking2069]

Don't Shut People Out

Today's topic is shutting people out. The other day, I nearly shut my friends and family out of my life. It almost happened, and then I fell on the ice, reinjured my back, and hurt my left arm too. Despite the pain, I got up and kept walking. However, the emotional pain of being on the verge of shutting out those I love was extremely intense. I felt alone and isolated.

The General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teach that shutting someone out is not the way Jesus did things.

Sister Carol F. McConkie said, "Inclusion means ministering to individuals, understanding their needs, and helping them feel valued and loved within the Church community." No matter how hurt we are, and whatever we tell ourselves amidst the pain, there are people who care and worry about us. My parents, siblings, and cousin were all concerned for me. I told them I was fine, but I even nearly shut Haily out. Shutting out these people was not a good idea.

Haily texted me, "I'm sorry. Just know I will be here if you need me." When I asked if she was going anywhere, she said, "No." She cared enough to just listen and be there.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has said, "Christ's love is the ultimate example of inclusion and compassion. We should strive to follow His example by reaching out to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances." This teaches us that we should reach out, listen, and stand by one another. Even in our deepest moments of pain, Jesus Christ is there, waiting for us to let Him in.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." This verse is often interpreted as Jesus inviting us to open our hearts and lives to Him. It symbolizes His constant presence and willingness to enter our lives if we allow Him. Let's open our hearts to Him and to our family and friends. Don't shut people out as I nearly did. Let God prevail and experience the everlasting feeling that Jesus Christ is always with us as we strive to live as He did and still does today. Praise be to God.

When we keep those who care about us in our lives, we will always have them to lean on. But we also need to look up and let Jesus Christ be there too. When others let us down, He won't. Let Him lift you to a higher level of peace that is endless. Just let Him in and strive to live the right way. God is my King, and I hope to become the king of my family by serving them, just like King Benjamin, who served until he died. I used to like leadership roles for the power, but now I know that the master is the servant, and that makes it even more special.

Your Slytherin King

This was edited by AI and sources came from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints website.

[slytherinking2069]

Look Up, Not Down: Finding Hope in the Midst of Struggles

Hey there, people I don't know, but hopefully, you're willing to get to know me. I'm 23, and to be honest, things have been rough for me. But I’m not without hope. I firmly believe that hopelessness is one of the devil's biggest tools. For me, it feels like hopelessness is a constant companion. It’s something I battle with every day.

One of the hardest parts of this is pushing away the people I respect. It’s hard to accept kindness and compliments, so I push them away, sometimes even from the people who care about me the most. I’ve been running away from the very things that could help me. But the thing is, I know I need to stop that.

Life is always changing, and it feels like I’m constantly fighting feelings of loneliness and desertion. Loneliness and desertion are similar, both being negative emotions that stem from hopelessness. I recently heard something that made me rethink everything. The idea came to me while I was going about my daily routine—walking to school, going to the store, doing the usual tasks that fill our lives. I realized we spend so much time looking down. Whether it's out of habit or because we’re focused on our own things, we rarely look up.

The word "isolation" popped into my mind in that moment. We go about our day, keeping to ourselves, never really looking up. I know I’m guilty of this, and I’ve seen it firsthand. But there’s something powerful about the simple act of looking up. It’s almost like a symbol of reaching out to something greater than ourselves, to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Parents. Looking up is a conscious effort.

So, I’ve started trying to look up more often. At first, it felt strange, but now, I’ve started to notice that it brings me a little more joy. And if looking up can help bring joy, why do we so often choose to look down? It’s so much easier to focus on the negative and sad parts of life, isn’t it? But I’m realizing that looking up can help me see the brighter, more positive side of things, and that’s a fight I’m willing to take on every single day.

Through all of this, I want to give a huge shoutout to my dear friend, Haily. She’s been with me through my worst days. You might even think we were dating because of how close we are, but we aren’t. She’s just a friend who cares deeply. The fact that she texts me all the time has really helped me see that I’m not a loser, like I often feel. She’s been a rock for me, and I want her to know how much I appreciate her for that.

Like many of you, I struggle with things of the flesh—things that are part of being human. I also deal with depression and anxiety. I used to be really outgoing, but over time, those emotional states have caused that part of me to fade away. Yet, even with all of this, I still know there’s hope. It’s hard to see sometimes, but it’s there.

So, if you’re reading this and you feel like I do, remember this one thing: look up, not down. It’s a small shift, but it makes all the difference. Keep fighting, keep looking up, and remember that you’re not alone.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps you in some way.

— The Slytherin King

Reworded and edited by AI. It makes it pretty awesome.