Spiritual Journal Entry #4: Viewing Each Other Through Our Father's Eyes

I don't know what it is about grocery stores, but they always seem to get me thinking.  The other day while I made a trip to one, I began pondering about PEOPLE... The question/thought came to my mind, What if I looked at each person with a special filter?  This special filter would have me look at everyone and see them the way our Heavenly Father sees them. It would help me see each person as a daughter or son of God, with the same divine potential. This filter would block out race, color, wealth or lack of, it would also block out faults and inadequacies. It would help me to see everyone as he sees them. I believed that as I started to do this it would change me, I would begin to treat others differently, better.  I knew that by seeing others this way, my love for them would deepen, it would become an unconditional love. I am in just the beginning stages of this and have already begun to have a deepened love for others and for my Father in Heaven.

This filter applies to all people, even our family members.  Sometimes they can be the ones we are the hardest on.  I was thinking about my boys. I can take things so personally with them and sometimes it seems like it becomes more about me than them. If for some reason they struggle at something, than I take that as my failure. Like I didn't do a good enough job, preparing them or teaching them. I do not think our Father in Heaven reacts this way. He sees each of his children's struggles and inadequacies as ways to strengthen us and help us draw closer to him.  So, if I am using his filter, I will see my children and husband as God's children, on there journey here on earth. My job is to lend support and love and help them on this path.  With this filter I would be able to see their struggles the same way Heavenly Father does and use them as a way to help strengthen them, and strengthen their relationship with their Father in Heaven and also there relationship with me. When I view my children, not as MINE, but as my Heavenly Father's children, I am less likely to yell and get upset with their short comings, and more likely to try to nurture them. Let me just say, I am a work in progress with all of this. My hopes are that each day, as I focus on seeing other's as God sees them, it will become easier and it won't take as much effort, it will become automatic.

This weekend I was reminded about the importance of each person, to our Father in Heaven. He knows each person. He knows each one of us individually. This past Sunday, I heard testimony of this from others and I have experienced the comfort and peace that comes from experiencing this myself.  It is so amazing to me to know that I have a Father in Heaven who is so perfect and that he knows everything about me. He knows my thoughts, he knows what is in my heart, he knows my struggles and he knows just what I need when I need it.  He loves me no matter what! That gives me so much comfort, to know that I am loved by someone unconditionally. The thing that makes this even more amazing is that he knows every person and loves every person unconditionally!

He loves us so much that he sent his eldest spirit child, his only begotten, to suffer such immense pain to pay the price for all of our pains, sorrows and sins. And then to experience more pain as he was mocked and was crucified and died.  As I have had time to ponder the love that both our Father and Savior have for all of us, I am overcome with emotions of gratitude. I am grateful for my Savior and elder brother! When I was little I always wished that I had an older brother. Now, I realize that I always have. He is the ultimate Big Brother! He is my advocate with the Father. I know he loves me, as he loves each one of us. He has always been the perfect example. My hope is that I can try each day to follow his example a little better! Love others and serve them, a little better each day!


After writing this and having a desire to put a great quote/printable on here, I came across this amazing article: The Power of God’s Love. By JOHN H. GROBERG, Of the Presidency of the Seventy. Found in the October 2004 General Conference.

Relief Society, Pursuit of Excellence: Freely forgiving others and Learning to repent daily

Last time I posted about the Pursuit of Excellence the goal to work on was Develop healthy eating habits and patterns.  I hope everyone has been working on their goal.  Here is the link to the Pursuit of Excellence pamphlet. 

This week's Goal is:

Freely forgiving others and Learning to repent daily.

So, these are actually two separate goals in the Pursuit of Excellence program.  I think that they can go hand in hand.  I chose these two goals, because they are very important and close to my heart.  I recently, went through a situation where my husband was upset and I was hurt, I didn't know to bring the harmony back.  Then, I did a Family Home Evening on Showing Love, Appreciation and Respect to Family Members and Building a Happy Family.  In putting the Family Home Evening together I was impressed by the page on Lds.org titled, "Happiness in Family".

One of the sections is: Repentance and here is what one of the quotes on the page says, "I recall listening at length to a couple who sat across the desk from me. There was bitterness between them. I know that at one time their love was deep and true. But each had developed a habit of speaking of the faults of the other. Unwilling to forgive the kind of mistakes we all make, and unwilling to forget them and live above them with forbearance, they had carped at one another until the love they once knew had been smothered. It had turned to ashes with the decree of a so-called ‘no-fault’ divorce. Now there is only loneliness and recrimination. I am satisfied that had there been even a small measure of repentance and forgiveness, they would still be together, enjoying the companionship that had so richly blessed their earlier years.” (“Of You It Is Required to Forgive” by Gordon B. Hinckley) As I thought about this, I came to the understanding that I needed to use the atonement and truly repent of my own faults. That meant that I had to acknowledge what I might have done to upset my husband and then follow the remaining steps in the repentance process. Then came the next part...

Learning how to freely forgive others.  The main headline on the Forgiveness page says, "Knowing how imperfect we are, surely we can extend healing forgiveness to those we love. Jesus said, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). Comfort and sweet peace will live in our homes when we forgive each other freely."  I came to the understanding that I am required to forgive freely, meaning even if someone does not ask for my forgiveness, I am still required to give it.  I can testify of the "comfort and sweet peace" that comes from this. 

When I focused on my own faults and was able to freely forgive my husband of his, I felt my Heavenly Father's love.  I knew that I did my part and that everything would be okay. I was truly at peace and the situation seemed to resolve.  I became closer with my Heavenly Father and my relationship with my husband was strengthened.

I usually do not give such personal information, but I feel that the topics of Repentance and Forgiveness are so important in every relationship, whether it be in the family, with neighbors, or fellow church members.  When we become more focused on our own faults and seeking daily to repent of them and then freely forgiving others of their faults, our lives will be blessed. We will be released from the entrapment of bitterness, helplessness and sorrow. We will feel peace and the unconditional love of our Father in Heaven.