Forgiveness

Boy, that's a tough one for anyone. Isn't it? Why should we forgive someone when they have wronged us? And why should we ask for forgiveness when we have sinned or have wronged someone else?

Well, the short answer, because God has told us too.

Leviticus 19:18

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Isaiah 53:3-5

"3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 Bet he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

D&C 64:9-11

"9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.

10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

11 And ye ought to say in your hearts-let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds."

Forgiveness is hard. No matter what side you are on. And I, have been on both.

I had to ask for forgiveness, repent, after high school. Let me tell you, it was not fun. It was hard. And what I felt wasn't all that good. I had to ask for forgiveness from people. I had to ask for forgiveness from the Lord. I read this book by President Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness. That was hard. It tears you down, then builds you up. It took me a long time to read it. But after I did, it was wonderful. I will never forget the feeling I got when I was finally forgiven by the Lord. When my repentance was done. It was so freeing.

If you haven't read that book, you should. It was truly the word of Lord coming from his beloved Prophet, Spencer W. Kimball.

But why is it so hard to forgive people? We feel like we have the right to be angry for the wrongs that they have done to us. But at the same time, we know that holding a grudge doesn't help us. It hurts us. Why do we choose to hold onto that ugliness? If we hold onto lots of grudges, we will become ugly inside.

I've had to forgive my neighbor. As much as I'd like to just say, "to hell with you." I won't. And I haven't. I have found peace in forgiving her. She is a sad person. I think she has held on to the uglies for too long. I pity her and feel sorry that she is so sad. But at the same time I pray for her. I pray for her happiness. And I have asked for forgiveness and have forgiven her. I hold no ill will against her. I don't know what all has happened in her life to make her how she is. And it's not my place to judge her or hold whatever issues she has against her. I know that if I have truly forgiven her, and I know that I have, then it's in the Lords hands now. He will take care of her how He sees fit. And that, that right there, brings me peace. 

It isn't up to me to make her life harder. Or to bring her down. I need to only forgive, forget and move on. Let the Lord take over. And that is so hard to do. But I have found, that if you pray for help to forgive someone, the Lord will make up the rest. He will grant you that. He will help you find the forgiveness and bring you peace.

I can only hope that if everyone were to forgive the people that have hurt them or upset them or whatever, then how much better would the world be? I wish that everyone could feel the peace that I am feeling now. I am truly happy. The Lord's way is happiness.

And, if I have hurt anyone through my blog, or actions in the past, please forgive me. I am sorry. Sometimes this blog is used as a venting tool or my lack of eloquence or brain cells, has hurt people. And I am sorry. Please forgive me.

And I forgive anyone that has hurt me through this blog, and in my life. I truly have no hard feelings towards anyone.

I pray that you all, can find peace and happiness in your life. If you need to say I'm sorry, or forgive someone, I hope that you can. It's not easy. But, when has anything in life that is worth it, been easy? Turn to the Lord and He will help you and make it easier.