Loving in Halves

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” 

Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

I found this quote the other day and instantly loved it-because I felt like it summed me up completely.  It is not, nor has it ever been, my nature to love people by halves. In fact, its not my nature to love anything by halves.

Since finding this quote, I have really continued to think about what it is that causes a person to love something completely. I don't have an answer for you-or even for myself. What I have found though is a quote from Elder Nelson:

'Our spirits existed in the pre-mortal realm and will continue to live after the body dies. The spirit provides the body with animation and personality. In this life and in the next, spirit and body, when joined together, become a living soul of supernal worth.' 

I love this because to me it says that the animation and personality I have now, is not something that was developed here, in this life. Instead, these traits of mine are things that I have always had and for that I am forever grateful. Because as hard as it is to love as fiercely and completely as I do at times, I am so very grateful that I have been given this gift.

So my answer, in part, is that Heavenly Father gives us the capacity to love something in halves or completely. And I know that anything given from Heavenly Father is a gift and a treasure.