Healing Powers

Healing Powers

Repentance and forgiveness are two vital processes for maintaining successful family relationships. As we look at the family of our Heavenly Father, we clearly see the never-ending cycle of disappointment and forgiveness. God never turns us away when we fail. Instead, His arms are always open with an understanding heart. Imitating this attitude in our families will bring healing and mending when disappointment prevails.

Doesn't everyone look for a person who will understand and forgive them when they realize and regret a mistake? Aren’t we humans all the same in terms of imperfection after all?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/mormon-channel-daily-quotes-meme-february-forgiveness-db35c68?lang=eng

It is never late to start using the powerful gift of forgiveness in our families so we can heal instead of hurting, so we can come back instead of leaving. People often wonder how families can be so happy, lasting, and never break apart. Well, there is one thing we certainly know, there is no family/relationship that has not encountered flaws. Every family is going through its storms whether we can see it or not. It’s the people who make it work by using the gifts of repentance and forgiveness that are available to every person.

True repentance changes people throughout time. It blesses not only the individual but also his/her relationships. It requires will and hard work. Failure will often follow attempts to change behaviour. Nevertheless, within strong families, one has as much time as he needs to win the battle. God puts people in families because it is the safest environment to learn from mistakes. Dallin H. Oaks (2003) highlighted,

“The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. . . . Repenting means giving up all of our practices—personal, family, ethnic, and national—that are contrary to the commandments of God. The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change” (p. 37)

Now, we should not confuse forgiveness with legal processes. People can forgive the person but he/she might still have to go through a legal court process. Thus, victims should be cautious to not find themselves in an unsafe situation again. Repentance and change require time; there is no shortcut. Therefore, people should take deliberate actions toward forgiveness, repentance, and change (Hawkins et al.,2012, p. 203). Mike Schmitz emphasizes some significant point about forgiveness

How has the healing power of forgiveness and repentance influenced your family? 

Hawkins, A. J., Dollahite, D. C., & Draper, T. (2016). Repentance and Forgiveness in Family Life. In Successful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives (p. 203). Provo, UT: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.

Oaks, D. H. (2003, November). Repentance and change, Ensign 33, 37–40.