I have been thinking a lot about my weaknesses and my imperfections and how I am probably not going to heaven because I just can't seem to shake them! In MY mind I am supposed to have mastered perfection before my 26th birthday, and because I haven't I am the least saintly person in the world.
I then remembered last month in a semi-annual LDS General Conference there was a quote by Nelson Mandela that says, "I am no saint- that is, unless you think a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying."
What an incredibly Christian thing to believe. A saint is simply someone who keeps on trying despite setbacks whether induced by ourselves, others or the universe. If I think of myself in the light that Nelson Mandela did, then I am in fact a SAINT.
This idea of sainthood is actually how Christ, someone who IS perfect, sees us. Christ suffered each of our pains so He knows each of us and our struggles infinitely. This compassion and this empathy that He has enables Him to love us regardless of our offenses. From a personal standpoint, Christ knows how deeply terrified I was seeing so many of the health issues plague my Dad...and some of those scars make me act differently, sometimes less compassionately than I should. I often feel the desire to flee at the sight of someone in physical distress which is so totally opposite what Christ would do. The miracle is that Christ LOVES me and champions me even when I run away because He knows how hard it is for me to stay. The times when I do stay is an incredible victory and He is overjoyed when I try my best to be strong.
Why can't we be more like Him? He is our ADVOCATE which is defined as someone who publicly supports or defends a person or a cause. He is our own Divine Lawyer. For the mercy that He shows me I feel responsible to offer others the same compassion and gratitude that He affords me.
I need to love the sinners around me, and see them as the saints that they are. I need to rejoice as Christ does for each and every difference they try to make in their lives to be better. I need to let go of their past transgressions, because I am not the one who can truly forgive them. I have NO IDEA what they have gone through that pushed them to their choices, all that should matter to me is who they are trying to become.
So that's all. Those are my thoughts.
Love you all,
Aubs
Also here are two talks that really hit home.
