Be A Light Giver

"Be A Light Giver" is something my mother has always said to me. And it is something that has been on my mind as I see others going through difficult, sad and extremely rough times.

I have had family and friends who have been affected by divorce. This is not something I myself can be 100 % understanding about, but I know that sometimes relationships cannot be healed. I know what it feels like to be emotionally and verbally abused. I know the pain that an ended relationship can bring. But divorce was not involved in my ending, as I was not married to the man who caused the abuse. So as I consider friends and family that are going through such heartbreak, sadness and anger, how and what can I do to help them? I want to lift the souls of the burdened and sad. I want to see them smile and feel the warmth and love that our Father in Heaven and our Savior have for them. Divorce is something that can never be easy, it is not a decision these people have made lightly, it has taken much thought anguish and prayer to make such a choice.

I pray my readers, that we are willing to help our family and friends by showing compassion love and no judgement. It is not our place to judge and pry for the details of something that is very personal to each individual that goes through something so heartbreaking as divorce. Sometimes children are involved, and I believe that would make the choice 10 times harder and terrifying. So instead of placing blame from outside the situation, offer love and support. Be a relief to the individual, help them find joy and love. Be a shoulder to cry on. And by all means DO NOT help them by telling them how wonderful your spouse is in those tender moments. I believe we need respectful of what they are going through. And often pray about how to help them, and pray for them.

I know that every situation is different. I know that everyone handles things in a different way. Be mindful and comforting to those friends and family. Help them by loving them, whether they seem like the guilty or the innocent.

Dallin H. Oaks talks about this in the video below. I pray for anyone who may be suffering and going through this hard time. I pray that we can all be a lifter of souls, and lighten the burdens of our loved ones. Be as my mother has always said, "A light giver". Offer the comfort and solace that our Savior would. Help them to remember and know that Jesus Christ is there for them and is there to buoy them up and give them the peace and comfort. Love them.

Comfort in Forgiveness

We have all done and said things we regret. We cannot deny that. I have done it many times. And when I find that I have done these things, I feel remorse and sadness for my mistake, so I try my best to do what I can to correct it and make it right. And for the most part the sorry and remorse is reciprocated, and relationships are mended and the offense is forgotten. And that always leaves you feeling good, and repentant in a way. But what about the times when the apology is not reciprocated by forgiveness? What if there is still a grudge being held? What happens when they say nothing to you? I have had this happen to me, it is something that I have let bother me, and I keep asking what else needs to be done to make the wrong right?

The most recent experience for me is something that I still think about. Things were said out of anger, I seriously felt my foot enter my mouth, but before I could stop it, it was to late. I could not take back the words. And because of this whole situation some people had hurt feelings. I tried to call, but got no answer on the other line. I left a message, but did not get called back. So I sent an e-mail, and though I was not forgiven, at least there was response and they acknowledged my efforts to an extent. And to the other person, I sent a text message, but never heard back. This one haunted me. Why would they just ignore my heartfelt apology? Why? I asked that question over and over again in my mind. I would tell myself, they know me, they know I really am a good person, but even good people make mistakes. I recognized it, why could I not be forgiven? This is something I will never know on their end.

So I have wondered, when we ask for forgiveness and forgiveness is not received from the person, what do we do? I talked to my husband, who is better at thinking these things through. He told me that he felt I really had done nothing wrong in the first place. But he knew it was something that had bothered me, and he said, "Honey, you have done all you can do. If they choose not to respond it is no longer your responsibility to apologize anymore." I thought about that for a while. And then I reflected on my Savior. Jesus Christ forgives us, he wants to, he just needs us to ask. If there is something that we have done, he is always there to buoy us up, and comfort our hearts. He WANTS and WILL forgive us if we get on bended knee and simply ask for it. Sometimes the journey of forgiveness is a long and hard one, but he never leaves us in silence. He always is there to answer us, to comfort us, and to guide us. He will NEVER just ignore our pleas for forgiveness. And in that I take great comfort. I trust in him, I believe in him, I love and honor him. So when we ask for forgiveness from someone, and they ignore us, take comfort in remembering the Savior, and his love for EACH and EVERY one of us. Though an individual may not forgive, he will, and therefore you will find that forgiveness which ye seek. And we must always remember, when someone asks us for forgiveness, it is our duty to do so. Do not deny someone the comfort of forgiveness, because we ourselves would not want to be denied that comfort.

This video is a talk given by President James E. Faust in the April 2007 Conference. One of my favorites. I hope it helps you understand more about the power and true healing of forgiveness, the same way it has me.

A Decision

Since my husband has been working for the church, we have had the opportunity to go to a Temple devotional that is held in the Salt Lake Temple for the temple workers there. It has been a neat and touching experience every year. One I look forward to. This year this event has fallen on the same Sunday as my daughter's primary program. I have struggled on deciding what the best thing to do would be. Do I just have her not go while my husband and I attend the devotional? Or do we forgo that this year and watch our daughter give her one line in the program, "We are to feast upon the words of Christ." It is her very first primary program, do I really want to have her miss that? I just have not been sure what is right. Because the devotionals are always wonderful, and I love to go, yet I have been before and my daughters 1st primary program will only happen 1 time. Then this morning I read this quote,

Henry B. Eyring: "A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child's life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths."

Ok, so I know what we are supposed to do. My daughter is more important than the devotional. I know that some may think this may be an easy choice one way or another, but it was something I struggled with.

It is just like her one simple line, "We are to feast upon the words of Christ." And though she is only 3 almost 4, she needs to learn what her line means. And I need to make sure I am an example of this. I think I know where my Savior would be. And that is where I will be. I look forward to attending her primary program this coming Sunday. :)

And The Winner Is?!

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SUZY STEED!!!!!

CONGRATS!  Keep your eyes open for another give away everyone, and of course my totally awesome posts!!  Thanks to all who entered!  We all truly enjoyed seeing your funny photos!