Memories of Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston passed 2 days ago. I need to take the time to remember my Whitney moments. Music is such a profound part of my life. It is the one thing that causes me to remember. Remember things that are important and to make it through the difficult moments. I have a few moments of Whitney, but there is only one that stands out to me. 

My first year of girls camp (1995) we had a special speaker come and he talked about the importance of loving ourselves. I didn't have a lot of self-confidence as a 12-year old that I can remember. I was a little pudgy and just didn't have the greatest style or anything. At camp I was sort of a loner because there wasn't really any girls my age that I knew.

 I have always been a perfectionist and extremely hard on myself. Nothing I do, ever seems fantastic enough - good enough. I have always felt I had a lot to live up to because I was so blessed to have been raised the way that I was...in the Gospel, with parent's who loved and lived it. I needed to be the example to everyone around me and so to me I have never been as good as I could be. 

 I remember the speaker playing the music video of Whitney Houston's, "The Greatest Love of All." I remember thinking that maybe it really is one of the greatest loves, because it is the hardest love to come by, at least for me. The words from her song always meant a lot to me and I thought of it often while in high school. 

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

Of course I relate so much of my life to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I know His is the Greatest Love of ALL! But, I know that I will always have His love, no matter my choices. He won't ever stop loving me. When my choices are not taking me on the path that will lead me back to Him, I find it hard to still love myself. I have found comfort in these lyrics throughout the years that maybe loving yourself is achievable and other people and my mistakes can't take that love away. 

The world has truly lost a Beautiful Voice with Whitney's passing. May she rest in peace.