Lessons learned

I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to go to church today. It has been a while since I have been healthy enough to go. I am always thankful for the lessons that are taught, and only hope that I can use them and apply them in my life for the upcoming week. One of the lessons that I learned today.... was about repentance. It was about how often we handle repentance in our lives, even when we have been forgiven, we sometimes suffer more than we should. Why, because we refuse to forgive ourselves. I personally know this can happen, because I have been guilty of that myself. But when I heard this story it just hit home on how much unnecessary suffering we can put ourselves through, unnecessary is the key word here!

I hope when you read this (that like me), we will remember to take the time out to not only repent, when it is necessary... but also to remember to forgive ourselves. There are many wonderful things that can be given to us after true repentance...peace, happiness,compassion, wisdom and joy are some of them!

 "So many live with accusing guilt when relief is ever at hand. So many are like the immigrant woman who skimped and saved and deprived herself until, by selling all of her possessions, she bought a steerage-class ticket to America.

She rationed out the meager provisions she was able to bring with her. Even so, they were gone early in the voyage. When others went for their meals, she stayed below deck—determined to suffer through it. Finally, on the last day, she must, she thought, afford one meal to give her strength for the journey yet ahead. When she asked what the meal would cost, she was told that all of the meals had been included in the price of her ticket.

That great morning of forgiveness may not come at once. Do not give up if at first you fail. Often the most difficult part of repentance is to forgive yourself. Discouragement is part of that test. Do not give up. That brilliant morning will come."  ~ Boyd K. Packer

"The black moment is the moment when the real message of transformation is going to come.  At the darkest moment comes the light."  ~Joseph Campbell

"I will love the light for it shows me the way.  Yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."  ~Og Mandino 

"Some who have spent a long winter of guilt and spiritual starvation emerge into the morning of forgiveness."    ~ Boyd K. Packer