I know...I know...I've been gone for a while and I can't promise I'll be back too soon, but I want to try. I want to write something that will keep my mind focused on what I should be focusing on, not where it seems to always be going. That that it is a bad place, but just not good for my own self-thinking. So here I am trying to get my thoughts down, again.........I'm sure there aren't very many people following me any more, so this will probably be just for me. But that is just fine.
My mind has been very clouded the past few months because of my own doing. Not blaming anyone for my own thoughts. I just seem to not be thinking the right way right now. Today in Sacrament meeting and Relief Society it kind of hit me hard because of two of the songs we sang. I think I need to remember the words to the hymns and look up the scriptures associated with them. Maybe that will get my mind where I should be.
Our opening songs was Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses. Oh, boy, does it ever! I've always thought this song had more of a lecture meaning than any other song in the hymn book, simply because it does! The verses don't seem to go with the chorus because the chorus is just about our Savior guiding us to Him. But, I suppose if we live the message of the verses, that is where we will more likely return. The verses tell us we should not judge others without being open to the same judgement ourselves. We can't tell someone they need to change something, or pull the mote out of their eye, if we don't acknowledge the beam in our own eye. No one is without some problems of our own. We are told by the Savior that we should judge not, because it is high to be a judge. If we want to be pure and holy we must love others, no matter what we may see in them. I read through the two verses that we don't usually sing (I wonder why?) The last few lines really made me think:
Now I'll take no further trouble;
Jesus' love is all my theme;
Little motes are but a bubble
When I think upon the beam.
I know the beam that is referred is the beam in our own eyes, not a glowing beam, but a larger hindrance than a mote in our friends eyes. I always thought of the mote and beam as like a sliver and a big wooden beam. The beam in my eyes makes it difficult to see the mote in my friend's eye. But then I got thinking was there another meaning to the beam? Could it be the beam that Jesus carried when He went to the hill and was died for me? When I think upon that beam, I am reminded that He died to save me from the sins I have committed, sins like judging others. I have had trouble with this lately, and I need to look at myself and see what I can do to get that out of my eyes and look at others more clearly.
The other song we sang in Relief Society was Lord, I Would Follow Thee. We only sang the second verse, but there it was again:
Who am I to judge another When I walk imperfectly?
In the quiet heart is hidden Sorrow that the eye can't see.
Who am I to judge another? Lord, I would follow thee.
The last verse reminds us we should love everyone as Jesus loves us. He will help us find the strength to do so, then we hear ourselves pleading to love our brother, promising the Savior we will follow him. Oh, how I need to remember this, and apply it in my life every day.
I need to look past my own thoughts and feelings and just learn to love as He has loved me. It doesn't do me any good to look at their faults because it makes mine all the more out there for others to see what I am doing wrong. It makes me look like a smaller person when I can't follow the Savior's example and love.
I will be working on this.
Showing posts with label Mercy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mercy. Show all posts
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Friday, August 3, 2012
Mercy!
I remember hearing my sweet Grandma Olsen says, "Mercy!" usually when she was excited or surprised about something. "Oh, Mercy!" I would love to hear that again.
Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. (3 Nephi 12:7)
I sure hope people show me a little bit of mercy. More importantly, I hope the Lord gives me mercy when my time on Earth is over. I know I will need it because I am very far from being perfect, even with all the repenting I do. Somehow He will make justice and mercy work together, but how can I be sure I end up on the right side of the balance scale? The scripture says what I have to do: Be merciful.
In order for me to obtain mercy I must first be merciful myself. So I got out my trusty Webster's New World Dictionary and looked up mercy, base word for merciful. Here is what I found: 1. a refraining from harming or punishing offenders, enemies, persons in one's power: kindness in excess of what may be expected of demanded by fairness; forbearance and compassion....a disposition to forgive, pity or be kind; kind or compassionate treatment; relief of suffering...
Well, that about sums it up. Don't hurt others. Not just physically, but I'm sure it also means emotionally and spiritually. Don't punish others when it isn't needed. Be kinder than you should be. Show compassion. Strive to have a disposition to be kind and forgiving to everyone. Give compassionate treatment to others. Help relief their suffering, whether it be emotional, physical, spiritual, or any other way.
Doing all of these nice things requires us to not place requirements for our mercy towards others. The author of the book I am reading says that when we judge others as unworthy of our mercy, we are placing ourselves in jeopardy for not receiving our own mercy.
How many times do I think "Well, they deserve it."? "They must be held accountable for their own actions." "They have to suffer the consequences." "It's their problem, not mine." All of these is true. We even say in the Second Article of Faith "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins....." Individual accountability is an important part of the gospel. We all know it. It keeps us on the right path. But what if I use that principal to justify my own responsibility to show mercy?
The author reminds me about King Benjamin telling his people how they need to look at the needs of others. (Mosiah 4:17) "Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just. (18) But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent. And except he repent...he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. (19)For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have? .....(22)And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which does not belong to you but to God."
By showing mercy to others I am not losing anything myself. In fact, I am gaining mercy from Jesus Christ. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus reminds us "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7:1-2) I can't think 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' because other people sin differently than I do. They might do something that I would never do. But I should still show mercy and compassion to them. I need to give my love and let them know that my love is not contingent on my positive judgment of them. I need to show that I am there to help them overcome any problems or situations they face.
At the same time, I have to protect myself from my own pain and suffering. I'm not going to let someone take advantage of me with their attitude of "You must do this for me so that you are showing mercy and aren't judging me!" I had a very fun roommate that I loved so much. She was always saying, "I'm giving you an opportunity to serve me. Please get me a glass of milk!" We always laughed and worked hard to find opportunities for the other person to serve us. I don't think the Lord expects us to show mercy to others at the expense of ourselves. But isn't it nice when we can show actual mercy to others?
Remember the shooting of the Amish school children, and how the Amish people showed mercy to the shooters family? Right now there is a book at Deseret Book about a man who showed mercy towards the person who caused the car accident that claimed the life of his wife and children. We don't need these dramatic situations to happen in order to show mercy. Sometimes we need to show mercy to people who are just suffering from their own situations, not because they have done anything to harm or hurt us. All people need to know they are accepted. When we don't show that acceptance we are not showing mercy.
If I want mercy I must show mercy. That is the Gold Rule. Do unto others as ye would have others do unto you. I have to do it first.
Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. (3 Nephi 12:7)
I sure hope people show me a little bit of mercy. More importantly, I hope the Lord gives me mercy when my time on Earth is over. I know I will need it because I am very far from being perfect, even with all the repenting I do. Somehow He will make justice and mercy work together, but how can I be sure I end up on the right side of the balance scale? The scripture says what I have to do: Be merciful.
In order for me to obtain mercy I must first be merciful myself. So I got out my trusty Webster's New World Dictionary and looked up mercy, base word for merciful. Here is what I found: 1. a refraining from harming or punishing offenders, enemies, persons in one's power: kindness in excess of what may be expected of demanded by fairness; forbearance and compassion....a disposition to forgive, pity or be kind; kind or compassionate treatment; relief of suffering...
Well, that about sums it up. Don't hurt others. Not just physically, but I'm sure it also means emotionally and spiritually. Don't punish others when it isn't needed. Be kinder than you should be. Show compassion. Strive to have a disposition to be kind and forgiving to everyone. Give compassionate treatment to others. Help relief their suffering, whether it be emotional, physical, spiritual, or any other way.
Doing all of these nice things requires us to not place requirements for our mercy towards others. The author of the book I am reading says that when we judge others as unworthy of our mercy, we are placing ourselves in jeopardy for not receiving our own mercy.
How many times do I think "Well, they deserve it."? "They must be held accountable for their own actions." "They have to suffer the consequences." "It's their problem, not mine." All of these is true. We even say in the Second Article of Faith "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins....." Individual accountability is an important part of the gospel. We all know it. It keeps us on the right path. But what if I use that principal to justify my own responsibility to show mercy?
The author reminds me about King Benjamin telling his people how they need to look at the needs of others. (Mosiah 4:17) "Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just. (18) But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent. And except he repent...he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. (19)For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have? .....(22)And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which does not belong to you but to God."
By showing mercy to others I am not losing anything myself. In fact, I am gaining mercy from Jesus Christ. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus reminds us "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7:1-2) I can't think 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' because other people sin differently than I do. They might do something that I would never do. But I should still show mercy and compassion to them. I need to give my love and let them know that my love is not contingent on my positive judgment of them. I need to show that I am there to help them overcome any problems or situations they face.
At the same time, I have to protect myself from my own pain and suffering. I'm not going to let someone take advantage of me with their attitude of "You must do this for me so that you are showing mercy and aren't judging me!" I had a very fun roommate that I loved so much. She was always saying, "I'm giving you an opportunity to serve me. Please get me a glass of milk!" We always laughed and worked hard to find opportunities for the other person to serve us. I don't think the Lord expects us to show mercy to others at the expense of ourselves. But isn't it nice when we can show actual mercy to others?
Remember the shooting of the Amish school children, and how the Amish people showed mercy to the shooters family? Right now there is a book at Deseret Book about a man who showed mercy towards the person who caused the car accident that claimed the life of his wife and children. We don't need these dramatic situations to happen in order to show mercy. Sometimes we need to show mercy to people who are just suffering from their own situations, not because they have done anything to harm or hurt us. All people need to know they are accepted. When we don't show that acceptance we are not showing mercy.
If I want mercy I must show mercy. That is the Gold Rule. Do unto others as ye would have others do unto you. I have to do it first.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Chapter 7 Forgiveness
This chapter opened my eyes to things I have been wrong in thinking. What I read here totally changed my life. I have so much underlined in my book that it is difficult to decide what to discuss here.
Ricky starts out saying that he doesn't feel the Lord is helping him out with his burdens. How often have I felt the same thing? I have so much to worry about, so much I need help to endure? Where do I begin? Grandpa helps him see that if he doesn't see the Lord helping him, he isn't looking in the right place because the Lord is there. OK..hit me between the eyes! Am I the same way? If I don't see the Lord, where am I looking? That needs to be my question. I guess I need to work on that!
Grandpa goes on to say, "Although the Lord stands before us offering the help we need, there is a condition we must meet in order to see and receive of his atonement offering." When Ricky asks what that condition is Grandpa says he has to find out himself. Through his deep thinking and contemplating, Ricky discovers that Abigail took on herself the sins of Nabal. In that act she resembled the Savior. Grandpa says he is right, but there is more to it than just that. The second thing she did was the key to understanding. "It will illuminate what it means to have taken another's sins on one's own head." As he keeps recounting what happens, Ricky realizes that Abigail asked David to forgive her own trespasses. She didn't ask him to forgive Nabal's trespasses, but her trespasses, and she had done nothing wrong.
And so it is with the Savior. "Christ did the same--that having taken upon himself the sins of those who have wronged us, Christ now comes to us and asks us to forgive him the trespasses." This doesn't strike Ricky as being right. Why should Christ ask us to forgive him? He didn't do anything wrong. He doesn't need our forgiveness. Grandpa says, "That one who didn't need forgiveness nevertheless asked for it--illuminates something very important about forgiveness. It illustrates who forgiveness is for."....."Abigail asked for forgiveness not because she needed to be forgiven but because Davd needed to forgive."
"Abigail's message was that forgiveness was for the one who was forgiving, not the one who was being forgiven. David needed to forgive so that, in the words of Abigail, 'he would continue to be found without evil, so that the Lord could make him a sure house.'" Abigail took on the sins, was willing to pay the price, so David would not sin. If he forgave her, he would be free from the effects of holding grudges.
"The Lord, by taking the sins of our Nabals upon his head, extends us the same mercy. 'Upon me let this iniquity be,' he pleases. "let me deal with it if there is any dealing to be done. But you, my dear son or dear daughter, let it go. Let me take it, as I alreay have done. Forgive.'"
We know that the Lord isn't actually asking us to forgive him, but the atonement is like that is what he is asking. "Inas much as you have done it (or not done it) unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me."
This is what struck me so hard: "When we withhold forgiveness from others, we are in effect saying that the atonement alone was insufficient to pay for this sin. We are holding out for more. We are finding fault with the Lord's offering. We are in essence demanding that the Lord repent of an insufficient atonement. So when we fail to forgive another, it is as if we are failing to forgive the Lord--who, as you already rightly said, needs no forgiveness." (p. 66)
"You must repent of your own sin of failing to forgive." "The Lord has already forged forgiveness for her. What more could your forgiveness add?" "The atonement applies as much to (others) as it does to you, my son. I have claimed (their) sins and taken them upon me. Let it go." "You should consider how your failure to forgive is in effect a withholding from the Lord--he who has claimed and atoned for the sins and weaknesses in (others) that you insist on carrying with grudge." So what if the other person doesn't forgive you.....it doesn't matter. Not forgiving them is not really an option if we want to be free from sin. Although we can't be completely sinless in this life, we can at least work toward it.
Christ will show us what pain others are feeling. He wants us to see others as he sees and loves them. "He begs you not merely to ungird your sword but to ungird your heart. If you do, the miracle of his atonement will flow freely, and you, like David, will put down war and take up bread and drink and sheep and figs."
Here are some key points to remember:
1. The Lord has taken the sins of others on his own head.
2. He has atoned for those sins. Our failure to forgive is, therefore, in essence a witholding from the Lord.
3. If we grant this forgiveness in full, he atones in full for the pain and burdens that have come at others' hands.
4. He will bless us with his own love, his own appreciation, his own companionship, his own strength to endure.
If we have these, what more do we need?
I am far from perfect, and I have been "accused" (I say that lovingly) in my own family of too often saying, "Just forget what the other has done." Maybe I really knew that this is how true forgiveness can come. You can't feel good with yourself if you aren't willing to forgive. Withholding forgiveness causes us pain and suffering, heavy hearts, and saddness. We don't need that. The Lord has paid the price for the wrong they did to us. We need to forgive. For our own sakes. This is so important, but so hard.
I have been so blessed that some members of my family have learned to love this message, this book, as much as I. I feel our family relationships have improved so much. There are still others I pray will be able to see the importance of forgiving. It is not just for us, but for others as well. And in forgiving, we are so blessed. Everyone needs blessings. We shouldn't deny ourselves this freedom from the sin of not forgiving.
I am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with some amazing insights into the atonement. I have so much more to learn, but I feel I am beginning to see a little bit of what it really means.
Ricky starts out saying that he doesn't feel the Lord is helping him out with his burdens. How often have I felt the same thing? I have so much to worry about, so much I need help to endure? Where do I begin? Grandpa helps him see that if he doesn't see the Lord helping him, he isn't looking in the right place because the Lord is there. OK..hit me between the eyes! Am I the same way? If I don't see the Lord, where am I looking? That needs to be my question. I guess I need to work on that!
Grandpa goes on to say, "Although the Lord stands before us offering the help we need, there is a condition we must meet in order to see and receive of his atonement offering." When Ricky asks what that condition is Grandpa says he has to find out himself. Through his deep thinking and contemplating, Ricky discovers that Abigail took on herself the sins of Nabal. In that act she resembled the Savior. Grandpa says he is right, but there is more to it than just that. The second thing she did was the key to understanding. "It will illuminate what it means to have taken another's sins on one's own head." As he keeps recounting what happens, Ricky realizes that Abigail asked David to forgive her own trespasses. She didn't ask him to forgive Nabal's trespasses, but her trespasses, and she had done nothing wrong.
And so it is with the Savior. "Christ did the same--that having taken upon himself the sins of those who have wronged us, Christ now comes to us and asks us to forgive him the trespasses." This doesn't strike Ricky as being right. Why should Christ ask us to forgive him? He didn't do anything wrong. He doesn't need our forgiveness. Grandpa says, "That one who didn't need forgiveness nevertheless asked for it--illuminates something very important about forgiveness. It illustrates who forgiveness is for."....."Abigail asked for forgiveness not because she needed to be forgiven but because Davd needed to forgive."
"Abigail's message was that forgiveness was for the one who was forgiving, not the one who was being forgiven. David needed to forgive so that, in the words of Abigail, 'he would continue to be found without evil, so that the Lord could make him a sure house.'" Abigail took on the sins, was willing to pay the price, so David would not sin. If he forgave her, he would be free from the effects of holding grudges.
"The Lord, by taking the sins of our Nabals upon his head, extends us the same mercy. 'Upon me let this iniquity be,' he pleases. "let me deal with it if there is any dealing to be done. But you, my dear son or dear daughter, let it go. Let me take it, as I alreay have done. Forgive.'"
We know that the Lord isn't actually asking us to forgive him, but the atonement is like that is what he is asking. "Inas much as you have done it (or not done it) unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me."
This is what struck me so hard: "When we withhold forgiveness from others, we are in effect saying that the atonement alone was insufficient to pay for this sin. We are holding out for more. We are finding fault with the Lord's offering. We are in essence demanding that the Lord repent of an insufficient atonement. So when we fail to forgive another, it is as if we are failing to forgive the Lord--who, as you already rightly said, needs no forgiveness." (p. 66)
"You must repent of your own sin of failing to forgive." "The Lord has already forged forgiveness for her. What more could your forgiveness add?" "The atonement applies as much to (others) as it does to you, my son. I have claimed (their) sins and taken them upon me. Let it go." "You should consider how your failure to forgive is in effect a withholding from the Lord--he who has claimed and atoned for the sins and weaknesses in (others) that you insist on carrying with grudge." So what if the other person doesn't forgive you.....it doesn't matter. Not forgiving them is not really an option if we want to be free from sin. Although we can't be completely sinless in this life, we can at least work toward it.
Christ will show us what pain others are feeling. He wants us to see others as he sees and loves them. "He begs you not merely to ungird your sword but to ungird your heart. If you do, the miracle of his atonement will flow freely, and you, like David, will put down war and take up bread and drink and sheep and figs."
Here are some key points to remember:
1. The Lord has taken the sins of others on his own head.
2. He has atoned for those sins. Our failure to forgive is, therefore, in essence a witholding from the Lord.
3. If we grant this forgiveness in full, he atones in full for the pain and burdens that have come at others' hands.
4. He will bless us with his own love, his own appreciation, his own companionship, his own strength to endure.
If we have these, what more do we need?
I am far from perfect, and I have been "accused" (I say that lovingly) in my own family of too often saying, "Just forget what the other has done." Maybe I really knew that this is how true forgiveness can come. You can't feel good with yourself if you aren't willing to forgive. Withholding forgiveness causes us pain and suffering, heavy hearts, and saddness. We don't need that. The Lord has paid the price for the wrong they did to us. We need to forgive. For our own sakes. This is so important, but so hard.
I have been so blessed that some members of my family have learned to love this message, this book, as much as I. I feel our family relationships have improved so much. There are still others I pray will be able to see the importance of forgiving. It is not just for us, but for others as well. And in forgiving, we are so blessed. Everyone needs blessings. We shouldn't deny ourselves this freedom from the sin of not forgiving.
I am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with some amazing insights into the atonement. I have so much more to learn, but I feel I am beginning to see a little bit of what it really means.