God’s Help in Loving My Brother

Jesse S., age 16, Minnesota, USA

Loves riding horses, playing piano and guitar, Nordic skiing, and running track and cross-country races.

I have a little bit of a strained relationship with my brother, Michael. Just normal sibling stuff, like we get on each other’s nerves. But I’d been praying to God for a few weeks to bless Michael and to help me love him and be kind to him.

Then one Sunday in sacrament meeting, my brother was up at the sacrament table so that he could bless the bread. While the bread was being passed, I said another little prayer in my head: “Lord, please bless my brother Michael with happiness.”

In that moment, I just felt this enormous sense of love for my brother, and I realized how much God loved him. The feeling was quiet and reverent, but it was extremely powerful to me.

After the sacrament, Michael came and sat down. It felt so awkward, but I turned to him and told him that God loves him.

I have felt God’s love for people around me, and I’ve felt it for me personally. I know that He loves you, too.