Using the Guide
Ice Cream, Friendship, and Loving Your Neighbor
Keeping the second great commandment is not as hard as you might think.
When a friend or family member is going through a really hard time, do you ever agonize over how to make their problems go away? Seems like a good idea on the surface.
But imagine that your friend’s parents are getting divorced. Or your younger sister is being bullied at school. Or your grandfather is battling severe depression. How do you fix all that?
The short answer is you can’t. And that’s OK. At the same time, though, you can always help. And you’d be surprised how much a little help can turn things around.
Big Struggles, Simple Kindness
Foni P. grew up in a single-parent home. During her childhood and teenage years, Foni watched her mom struggle to raise three kids alone. As a result, Foni developed negative feelings toward her father. Then recently, after she turned 19, her father started reaching out to try and connect.
“I was upset,” Foni says. “My thinking was, ‘He had 19 years to enter my life but didn’t. Why now?’” Even though she prayed and pondered, Foni still couldn’t find peace. Talking with her mom and aunt helped a little, but it still left her feeling tied in knots. Then something incredible (but simple) happened: Foni’s best friend invited her out for ice cream and shopping.
“A lot of people would look at that and think it wasn’t a big deal,” Foni says, “but it meant so much! I felt the sun on my skin. We were walking outside, and I saw the trees. I felt the wind, and I felt the Spirit at the same time. It was amazing.”
Did this impromptu shopping trip solve Foni’s problems? Well, no. Foni admits that her relationship with her father is still challenging. But that simple act of kindness from her friend allowed Foni to feel the Holy Ghost again. She could then better face her struggles with extra strength. “I know she was prompted by the Holy Ghost to take me out of the house,” Foni shares.
Who Needs You Today?
In the For the Strength of Youth guide, we are invited to “reach out to those who feel lonely, isolated, or helpless. Help them feel Heavenly Father’s love through you” (For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices [2022], 12). That simple act of friendship helped Foni feel God’s love during a tough situation. Who can you help feel that same love today?