I have to confess something about myself. For years I was very cruel, unforgiving, talked badly about, and behaved shamefully towards someone. There was no mercy given to them for small mistakes, or unintended hurts, or anything that was less than perfect. I was unaware of this behavior until I was ready to hear the truth about how I was treating them. I didn't recognize the need for change until I learned that, honestly, I would never ever treat anyone else so deplorably. The person I was so cruel to was myself.
In that moment of understanding I wanted to change, to truly repent of how cruel to myself I had been, for pretty much all my life. I needed clear understanding and knowledge about the commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Mark 12:31,33). And the application of the teaching, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7; 3 Nephi 12:7).
As I have been more compassionate and forgiving of myself, I have been able to be even moreso to others. It feels so good to truly love and not feel the need to "compete". I continue to work on this, to repent daily- which really means to turn towards God. I love that "...mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles [me] in the arms of safety... [as I] have faith unto repentance" (Alma 34:16).
If there was one thing I could tell you today it is that God is a just God and a merciful God. He wants the very best for you. He would tell you: "Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself. Love yourself as I do." Because when we do offer ourselves these gifts of mercy, love, and compassion; they are easier to give them to others. And we all need mercy. That is one of the gifts Jesus offers us every day as we turn our hearts to Him. This I testify.
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| God is merciful and just. |
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| God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Offering mercy to ourselves and others goes a long way! |
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