When a Person Makes a Mistake

 

People can make many types of mistakes that may seem unpardonable, but most mistakes are forgivable.  For instance, some time ago, I made a mistake that I thought had offended someone. I sincerely apologized for the over-sight and hoped he would forgive me.  He wrote me back and said that I didn’t need to worry about it that he knew it was unintentional.  He ended his discourse by giving me some advice to not “bash myself” and forget it.

That was all well intended for him to counsel, but I still had the feelings of sorrow for the mistake. My mind kept analyzing the error repeatedly.  I wondered the “who, what, why, when and where” of the misunderstanding and my hurt went deeper into my mind.  It became my central focus for punishing me and I felt miserable. I turned to the scriptures to find comfort.

I read from the Holy Bible:

Matthew 18:21-22 

21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

God has said that we should forgive others of their mistakes seventy times seven but while other people can forgive, there are times when the agony of a mistake will stick like glue and no matter how hard we may try, it won’t go away.  I thought, what is the purpose of forgiving mistakes if most people cannot even forget them, especially when applied to me when I try to forget my own mistakes?  I searched for a way to forget the hurt of a mistake.

As I analyzed how to forget a mistake, my mind focused on the Atonement of the Savior and the purpose of His Atonement.  I realized that the Messiah not only suffered for mankind's sins, but He experienced all the sicknesses and suffering that man would experience. The thought came to my mind then that He actually understands the hurts from all of our mistakes.  Even so, the question remained, how could I forget the hurt of my mistakes?

I fasted, prayed, studied the scriptures and pondered more about getting rid of a hurt and then I realized more about the Savior’s suffering and that through the grace of the Atonement for all, it is possible for Him to remove the memory of a repented of mistake from any of us.  Once I realized this, I was able to focus more on the purpose of the Atonement of the Savior for all.  My faith in the Atonement increased and through His Love for me, I was able to forget nearly all of the past pain caused through my mistakes.

The pain didn’t leave at once, but whenever the agony seemed to be overcoming, I prayed and pondered the great act of Love [Atonement] from the Savior as He had suffered for me and after a time, I was able to forget many of the mistakes.  I learned that by applying this process to other types of mistakes that would plague me that I was able to handle the pains of life better and life was much happier for me.

Tags: Atonement Trials RuntoTomorrow EnduringTrials Pain Suffering

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