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!