the miracle of forgiveness

This video was shared in my YWs lesson last week... I usually kinda shy away from the longer videos (silly me), so I hadn't seen it before! :)

Enjoy!




I think that the miracle of forgiveness is such an amazing thing. Albeit unintentionally, the young man in this video still took a lot away from Chris and his family. And the fact that Chris was so ready to forgive is such a cool thing.

So why is it so hard to forgive people for the little things? If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I am a firm believer that most people are just trying to do what's right. And even if they don't always go about it the right way, at least not in your opinion, it's important to keep in mind that people are trying. 

I make so many mistakes in my life that cause me to beg for forgiveness. And if the Lord is willing to forgive me, why should I be slow to forgive the little things that others do?

I want to live a life filled with love for others. I never want to be one who holds grudges. I don't want to judge people because of things I hear about them. And I want to be the kind of person where if anyone said something negative about me, others wouldn't believe it.

I want people to think of me as the person who will love others for who they are and for what they are.

So how about we start being slower to judge, more rarely offended, and quicker to forgive.

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“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” 
-Mother Teresa

judge not.

First of all, saddest comic ever.
Second of all, I haven't blogged in 11 days. I have been a waste of human cells the last little bit because of school. I'm ready for summer. Actually, no. Because then I'd be closer to another year of school. I'm seriously only half kidding.
Oh, and third of all, when I think of blogging, all I can think of is what an uncreative, repetitive person I am. I've been feeling like my posts have been topic-less lately. Instead they are just a mosh of repetitive thoughts. Is this just me?

 *sigh*

Kay. I'm good. I'm golden, in fact.

But the man in the above pictures is definitely not golden. (That was a pretty good connecting sentence, if I do say so myself.)

I'm definitely guilty of judging grumpy people. Grumpy people are talked about behind their backs. They're the horn honkers. The people who scowl at whoever bothers them in any way at the grocery store. And you know what? They drive me nuts sometimes! That's why it's so important to be happy and thoughtful. Because people will like you! Or at least they won't be bugged by you. :)

I really liked the above picture because it shows really well how people hide their feelings.

And it's a reminder to me that people live hard lives. And they try. And they fail. And they sometimes unintentionally take it out on the people around them.

 And then people talk crap about them.

That kinda makes me sick, actually.


I believe I've shared this video before, but it goes perfectly here.




"From the moment I laid eyes on him, I judged Charles."

 People are often times so different than we imagine.

You know what, this is starting to sound like my last post. Dang it. eeerrrgggh. Seems I am the queen of repetition.


I do have one more fun video, though.



Isn't that cool?


"There are more ways to be good than bad."

People are so cool.

And they live hard lives. So try not to judge.

And I'll try to blog more often. If I can think of something different to blog on. haha.

Have a great Friday!

you've just been pep talked! (and pass on the joy!)

This little video makes me so happy. And it makes me laugh. Hard.

This is life! You've got air coming through your nose! You've got a heart beating!
And you were made to be awesome.

You are so blessed. So blessed.


“Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on; 'Twas not given for thee alone, Pass it on; Let it travel down the years, Let it wipe another's tears, 'Til in Heaven the deed appears - Pass it on. ” 
- Henry Burton

I feel like - being so blessed with a happy life - I have the responsibility to make others feel that same happiness. I want others to come closer to God and I want to teach them to choose to be happy. 

My blessings are not for me alone. They are for others too. 
I've started trying to be more and more aware of others - maybe trying to spot out their needs. 

- Like paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru at Wendy's. It's usually only a few dollars and maybe that person was having a crappy day.
- Sending a text to someone you don't talk to a lot... maybe they are really needing a pick-me-up. 
-Send a thank you card to someone for something little. 
- Just be more patient with people... on the road, at the cash register... you really have no idea what is going on and getting impatient with people doesn't get you anywhere. Instead, try just smiling at them when they look to you apologetically... like it's no big deal. (Because it isn't.)

You can really brighten someone's day by doing really tiny things. You can be the one to give them more faith in the world. The angels in heaven are watching, and I'll bet they will commend you one day. 
"Remember that day you said [insert here] to Billy? Well, he's my son. I know it seemed like no big deal to you, but those words really helped him get through his trials. They helped remind him that there is still good in the world even though he was devastated by my death... I was looking down, so grateful to you."

Hehe. I am kinda chuckling at myself right now. That's a weird example, but do you get what I mean? 

Okay, I was trying to embed one more video to finish, but I can't seem to get it to work. Click here to watch. It's really short. 

And if you liked it, try this one, this one, this one, this one, this one... I'm sure there are more. But I'd better get to bed. :)


Just remember - they may never meet you again, but you can make the world a better place just by helping out, making days brighter, and consequently changing people's attitudes. 

And one thing's almost certain. They'll pass it on. 

love others.

Have you seen this commercial? This is perhaps one of the most beautiful videos I have ever seen. Enjoy. And then share. :)

There are so many things I take for granted.

I feel so selfish sometimes. 

I am so lucky to be living where I am living.

I am so lucky to have the family I have, and the gospel in my life.

I am so lucky to have the freedoms I have.

The past while I have been been really sad about the condition of our country. 

I fear for it.

But you know what? It is still great. It is still good.

I am probably living in better conditions than 99% of the world.

And I'm grateful for Sundays.

I'm grateful for my ward family.

I am grateful for my friends. 

I am grateful for my sight.

When I take a little step back, I can see the world from a different perspective. We are all just plugging along, trying to do what we think is best.

And life is hard. Not just for me or you, but for everyone. 

We weren't meant to be self-sufficient. We need God in our lives.

And I want to help people.

I want to make them grateful for me. 

I want to change someone. 

Maybe even change a few someones. 

Little teeny tiny actions on our part really can have a profound effect on someone's life.

Or someone's eternity.

What better way to show gratitude to your Savior than to love and serve your fellow men?

Matthew 25

34 - Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 - For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 - Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 - Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 - When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 - Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 - And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

How amazing, right?

The scriptures say that in the last days, love of many shall wax cold.

We see this everywhere... divorce, violence, nasty words...

One place I always notice it is on the internet. I will click on the article of a tragic death, and all I read is, "how could you be so foolish" or "you shouldn't have left your child alone..."

I read nasty words everywhere on the internet. 

I just think, "Would you say these things to someone's face?"

"Do you think that because you can anonymously write unkind words that they will be forgotten or dismissed?"

"Do you think this isn't bullying??"

I mean sheesh, hasn't anyone ever heard of netiquette?

The internet isn't the only evidence of love waxing cold... just the one that came to mind at the moment. 

Keep in mind that no one - not even the angels in heaven - not even the prophet - knows when Christ will come again.

People have been making predictions for thousands of years. Click here to see a list. It's actually very interesting.

But no one knows. 

We have knowledge of signs that will proceed the coming of Christ, but I think people sometimes suppose that it will take a long while for them to be fulfilled. 

I wonder if some people think, "when we have missions in China, then it will be time."

Well the gospel is already being preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. I'm pretty sure we don't have to have a China mission for that to be fulfilled.

And don't forget Hong Kong.

Don't take this as doctrine, but I wouldn't be surprised if Christ came tomorrow and the signs were just fulfilled in different ways than I had supposed. 

I mean I'm pretty sure that there are still signs that have to be fulfilled... but I don't know... just a thought.

What if when the Savior comes and despite what's going on around you, you are still loving and serving your fellow men?

I don't think those people - people who really, truly love others... even those they don't know - have anything to fear. 

So what is your take on this? What lesson is to be learned?