This weekend was Stake Conference at church. I have learned so very many things that go with this. There was a sister who spoke last night on overcoming your anger and hurt and learning to forgive. She spoke about how difficult her life was for her. How much her heart ached. How she wanted revenged for the things that were done to her. As she grew up, she cut the people involved during that horrible time, out of her life. She tried to get through it on her own. She tried to forgive and to move on, but inside, there was always this little niggling doubt about what had happened and what she should do about it.
Finally, after much soul searching, she went to the temple to contemplate and pray there. Struggling to get an answer to help her forgive what needed to be changed in her life. The answer cam there, in the peaceful, quiet moments of worship and reflection, the answer came. And it was not one that she thought she could accomplish. But she prayed and she felt strengthened and she opened up her notebook and wrote a letter with the help of her loving heavenly Father. She poured out her heart and her sorrow and her regrets. Then at the end, she poured out her love. And with her tears and sorrow, she found the power to forgive another. She send the letter and received and answer back and their were more apologies and tears and because of her strength to follow the inspiration from the Lord, her family is starting to find peace and healing and love once again. The first step has been made A hand reached out to touch another. At one time, hearts and aching could not block the space and loneliness that overcame where love had been before.
But today, love returned where it was never expected and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Forgiveness has to power to turn our hearts back to God. He waits for us with His Hands stretched out in welcome. I waits for us to come to Him. He waits for us to ease the pain and suffering of those who have wronged us, but he also waits for us to realize that we need His forgiveness also. For with the wrongs come the words said, the stories told, the meanness in our hearts as we desperately hope that things will be fair. But fair is not usually want we need. We need to have the struggles that help us to find His path back home. We need to have the trials that prepare us for what we will need. But we also need to learn to forgive and come to Him. He will be there, quietly waiting to bless you and help you through your trials. If you only know how very much you need those blessings. He waits, for you. Only for you. You are His and He knows exactly what you need. My you recognize His blessings in all of your life and may you recognize His love.
Wow, this one hit my heart. We have a granddaughter in the exact place this sister was in. She needs to come to terms with some family abuse. It is all so sad. Right now she is in counseling and hopefully she will be guided to where real healing comes and that is through the Savior's atonement.
ReplyDeleteThanks and blessings for this one!