Saturday, February 28, 2015
Praying to Approach Alright
Today's entry will be pretty short. I prayed to Heavenly Father that I would know how to handle a meeting with a friend, the same one that I had a less than ideal experience with yesterday. I was pretty sure that he was going to say sorry. I was right, and I think that we're at peace with each other now. I'm grateful for tender mercies of the Lord. My friend had the humility to accept counsel from the Lord, and I'm grateful that he was able to; because of his humility and the magnificence of the Lord, I still have my friend.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Effort, Hope, and Forgiveness
Today, I thought a lot about what I could give my Savior. And because I was feeling extremely introverted, I knew that I needed to do something involving other people. In the end, I actually did a few things for my Savior.
I had already told Heavenly Father that I was going to visit some of my friends for my gift, when unexpectedly, a different couple of friends asked me to hang out with them. I was nervous to do so because of unusual circumstances, but I prayed to Heavenly Father that I would be able to have His Spirit so that it could go smoothly. I was hoping to help mend a hurting friendship.
Well...that didn't work out so well. I'm not so sure that I should have gone at all. By the time that we weren't all together anymore, I was feeling really hurt, and I wasn't the only one. And while my perspective is limited by my own view point, I felt like I hadn't deserved the treatment that I received. By no means am I perfect, but I wasn't meaning to provoke anyone, and I didn't say anything that would be classified as hurtful.
So still shaking, with my eyes a little red, I followed through on my original prayer and went to visit some of my other friends. While I was visiting with them, I calmed down some and realized that Heavenly Father wants something else from me to today.
He wants me to forgive my friend as well as find hope in His Son.
My friend is absolutely great. He tries so hard, and he has gone through so much. And our friendship is immensely important to me. Tonight he made it sound like we weren't friends anymore...and it broke my heart. I cried and cried, and all the while, I wondered if I had done anything so wrong that he would be so mad at me. But it doesn't matter. I need to trust Heavenly Father to take care of His children, to take care of my friend as well as take care of me. I need to trust that the Atonement truly does cure all ills. In other words, my Savior needs my hope and forgiveness.
So today, I choose to give not only my reluctant socialization and failed friendship repair (I know, these gifts sound glamorous),but my hope and forgiveness as well. And as I feel those tainted emotions slipping away, I know that Heavenly Father is accepting my offering. I'm nowhere near perfect, but I know that life can and will get better. The Savior is real, and He loves you personally!
I had already told Heavenly Father that I was going to visit some of my friends for my gift, when unexpectedly, a different couple of friends asked me to hang out with them. I was nervous to do so because of unusual circumstances, but I prayed to Heavenly Father that I would be able to have His Spirit so that it could go smoothly. I was hoping to help mend a hurting friendship.
Well...that didn't work out so well. I'm not so sure that I should have gone at all. By the time that we weren't all together anymore, I was feeling really hurt, and I wasn't the only one. And while my perspective is limited by my own view point, I felt like I hadn't deserved the treatment that I received. By no means am I perfect, but I wasn't meaning to provoke anyone, and I didn't say anything that would be classified as hurtful.
So still shaking, with my eyes a little red, I followed through on my original prayer and went to visit some of my other friends. While I was visiting with them, I calmed down some and realized that Heavenly Father wants something else from me to today.
He wants me to forgive my friend as well as find hope in His Son.
My friend is absolutely great. He tries so hard, and he has gone through so much. And our friendship is immensely important to me. Tonight he made it sound like we weren't friends anymore...and it broke my heart. I cried and cried, and all the while, I wondered if I had done anything so wrong that he would be so mad at me. But it doesn't matter. I need to trust Heavenly Father to take care of His children, to take care of my friend as well as take care of me. I need to trust that the Atonement truly does cure all ills. In other words, my Savior needs my hope and forgiveness.
So today, I choose to give not only my reluctant socialization and failed friendship repair (I know, these gifts sound glamorous),but my hope and forgiveness as well. And as I feel those tainted emotions slipping away, I know that Heavenly Father is accepting my offering. I'm nowhere near perfect, but I know that life can and will get better. The Savior is real, and He loves you personally!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
My Birthday for His Birthday
I love my Savior, and I'm always trying to love Him more. For His birthday this year, I'm trying to give Him something everyday, whether it's a little bit more of my heart, forgiveness of another, or acts of service.
Why am I doing this? I have this moment that I'm looking forward to, a memory that I haven't made yet.
It's Christmas day. I go somewhere quiet, perhaps in the middle of a park early in the morning, and I sit with my best friend the Savior. There is a feeling of love, peace, and familiarity; I know Him so much better than a year ago. As we watch the sunrise, we reminisce about the wonderful experiences that we've had together in the past year. Both He and I know that I've done my best to never leave Him, to accept His Atonement and let my light shine (Matthew 5:16). Our relationship is strong and deep.
That's a beautiful memory that I want to make and wouldn't replace for the world.
It's my birthday today, but that's not terribly important. On my birthday, I'm trying to remember His birthday.
Today, I went out of my way to show gratitude for some people that are undervalued. I've been helping out in the special ed classes at Provo High School lately, and let me tell you, those teachers and peer tutors are absolutely fantastic. Annabelle knows how to love her students and firmly help them progress. Lucy has a great sense of humor that makes her students laugh, and she truly cares for and empathizes with them. Jeff recognizes their capability and helps them reach it. The student peer tutors are kind and patient. These people have hearts of gold, and I'm really grateful that I've been able to know them a little bit better over the course of the last few weeks.
Why am I doing this? I have this moment that I'm looking forward to, a memory that I haven't made yet.
It's Christmas day. I go somewhere quiet, perhaps in the middle of a park early in the morning, and I sit with my best friend the Savior. There is a feeling of love, peace, and familiarity; I know Him so much better than a year ago. As we watch the sunrise, we reminisce about the wonderful experiences that we've had together in the past year. Both He and I know that I've done my best to never leave Him, to accept His Atonement and let my light shine (Matthew 5:16). Our relationship is strong and deep.
That's a beautiful memory that I want to make and wouldn't replace for the world.
It's my birthday today, but that's not terribly important. On my birthday, I'm trying to remember His birthday.
Today, I went out of my way to show gratitude for some people that are undervalued. I've been helping out in the special ed classes at Provo High School lately, and let me tell you, those teachers and peer tutors are absolutely fantastic. Annabelle knows how to love her students and firmly help them progress. Lucy has a great sense of humor that makes her students laugh, and she truly cares for and empathizes with them. Jeff recognizes their capability and helps them reach it. The student peer tutors are kind and patient. These people have hearts of gold, and I'm really grateful that I've been able to know them a little bit better over the course of the last few weeks.
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