I’ve been thinking about the inevitable mistakes that come along in life. I mean, we all want to progress and learn and grow, right? I think we all think and plan for this growth in all kinds of different ways. But we forget to calculate in the fact that we’re all going to fail in our strivings here and there. Because that’s what actually brings the true growth.
A Story from my Friend’s Daughter about Inevitable Mistakes
My friend’s daughter returned from her mission this last summer and her homecoming talk at church still rolls around in my heart.
She talked about how she and her companion taught this man all about Jesus and the gospel. He felt the truth of what they were teaching him and made a huge change to give up smoking and drinking. Then he made the huge decision that he wanted to get baptized.
Oh it was all glorious and so happy as he made that decision and became a member of the church. That is, until she went to visit him shortly after his baptism and he was drunk. She talked about how her heart ached for him. How could he fall into drinking so shortly after he made this huge decision to change his life around?
She was disappointed.
And she was heart-broken. She loved this guy and his willing heart. She wanted the best for him.
The next Sunday this new member came to church. Still disappointed, she watched from the corner of her eye as he went into the Bishop’s office. She noticed when he came out he was glowing. He wanted to be there at church. And suddenly her heart changed.
How her heart changed
I loved how she explained her transformation (not his) as she realized all that all her teaching and hoping and loving wasn’t to just change this guy and have him become perfect. Just because he was baptized didn’t mean he was never going to mess up again. Being baptized meant he was ready to turn his heart to God. And keep turning it, over and over and over again. Even when the going got tough.
I love this story so much because it’s so relatable. How we are all like this man! Oh we strive to be better but we make mistakes. Over and over again. And the mistakes, when we let them, can be the building blocks to learning and growing. Learning from our stumbling is exactly what makes us a better disciple of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes the learning is tricky. And painful. Sometimes we run into obstacles that make us feel like we can never look someone in the eye again. And that God would be so disappointed in us.
But I just don’t believe in that. I believe there are always and forever second chances.
Because of Jesus.
General Conference
I LOVE General Conference weekend that comes every six months in our church. It’s when we watch a broadcast of leaders of the church spilling out all kinds of insight and goodness as we each walk our own paths. Paths filled up with mistakes and wringing hands and learning and growing. I’d LOVE to hear any thoughts you have as you watch. Things you may agree with and that whisper truth to your soul and also things that might be confusing. Because man alive, we all have so much to learn.
And General Conference is THIS WEEKEND!
I didn’t hear all the talks today (it’s broadcast on Saturday and also Sunday), but I’m excited to tune in again tomorrow. And also excited to listen and re-listen and study these talks going forward.
I’m so grateful for all the time and energy that goes into conference so that we can all learn. And think harder about the people we want to become, mistakes included in the journey.
COME JOIN US!
You can listen to the sessions from today and also tune in any time tomorrow.
So thankful that God’s mercies are new every day!
Me too! We all make mistakes every day, so grateful we can just keep re-routing and trying again!
xoxo
No we all don’t want to progress. I find it peculiar that so many use this phrase. I intend to remain a typical human that believes in God. I don’t need glory in earth or in heaven. I just want to go home when God calls me and keep things as they are the years before that happens. I want life to be uneventful. I don’t want the universe to teach me valuable lessons at the expense of those around me. I have read, I have too much college, I have had many life experiences and roles.
Why are so many constantly thinking or claiming they are improving themselves? For what purpose? And why all the sharing? Are they really improving themselves? I am sometimes good and sometimes bad and expect the same in those around me. I don’t understand how speeches matter in all that. Just seems like an all day homily/motivation speech/work conference. I feel really bad that a young person of 20 thinks they could manage alcoholism in another through membership. I hope she okay. Membership was to belong to something. Not to manage an addiction. People who drink can accept Jesus. He probably already did years before just in a different denomination.
You sure complain and criticize a lot. Every time you comment you have some critical thing to say. You know that this is a Mormon blog, so why do you read it if every little thing they do bothers you? Your comments sound like they come from some cranky old hag.
I have been pestered in my life by people telling me to be them. I’m as old as she is. I do get cranky. That is fair enough. I don’t need the image of never being cranky. Nor the pressure to admit I’m cranky at times so others feel built up. I do get critical of commenters when people pester her about her kids clothing. A mission is fine in a of itself now they let them use the phone. Right of passage. Study, service, help with practical stuff. A 20 year should not feel another’s soul is in their hands. Imagine the pressure?
I am sorry you feel that others pester you to become them. But it sounds as if you do realize that your journey is your own. No one else is in charge of that aside from YOU. So don’t let others get in your way and you do you. I can tell you have a good heart and want to look out for others though, like these 20-year-olds. Maybe you’re progressing after all even if you’re comfortable where you are:)
Here is another post with more thoughts about progression and finding our purpose if you’re interested:
https://71toes.com/on-figuring-out-life-and-creating-disruption-here-and-there/
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Kristine. To me, working to progress and become a better person make me happy and feel so much purpose in life. So progression is important to me. I genuinely want to be better at loving others and learning new things and figuring out how I can be a contributing member of society and that takes practice and concentration. I would never want to do that at the expense of others though, but not sure how that would be detrimental?
This story of my friend’s daughter was so impactful to me because she’s learning that everyone has their own journeys and trials and triumphs. I think the beauty of it is that she realized she wasn’t in charge, yet she had so much love for this person and his own personal journey. I think missions help you develop such a love for those you teach you just want so much for them. So when you can take a step back and realize everyone’s developmental process is so different it’s a pretty cool thing.
Sending you love on whatever works for you in life.
xoxo