July 20, 2020

I wanted to elaborate on the post from yesterday, because as I was sharing some of those scriptures with my family, some additional insights came to mind that I thought I might want to capture.  As I spoke to my kids about letting the mistakes of one another go and not use them as opportunities to belittle or to criticize, I was reminded of the time when I was 14 and wrecked my dad's car.  Shouldn't have even been driving, much less wrecking.  Well, he knew how I felt, and he said nothing other than, first, "Are you OK?"  Followed by a kind but obvious reminder, "you're going to have to figure out how to pay for that."  He never criticized me, he held me accountable, but with love and kindness.

Then I thought about the Savior.  How does He handle us when we fail him?  DOes he rub our noses in it?  Or does he just 'let it go' and not critize?  He actually does neither, he literally looks for ways to help us rise from the guilt we feel from our mistakes, to remember and take advantage of the atonement, thereby enabling us to continue to grow and stretch ourselves, and in so doing become more like the Savior.

What an example.  How can I, when I see mistakes, increase my love for the one who committed them, so that through me they can see and believe that they are larger and more valuable than a mistake, and that they can rise above it.  How can I help people see their weaknesses becoming strengths through forgiveness, and trust in the Savior's promises?