Yesterday, my home teacher came by and shared an inspirational story with us. I liked the message it delivered so much that I decided to share it with the family that I home teach and you as well.
The story goes that two friends were walking through the desert.
During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.
The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand:
Today my best friend slapped me in the face.
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath.
The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.
After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:
Today my best friend saved my life.
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him,
After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now you write on a stone. Why?
The other friend replied:
When someone hurts us we should write it down in the sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in a stone where no wind can ever erase it.
My Thoughts On This Story:
The Stone – Remember the good that people do to you. It can perpetuate in your behavior and influence those around you.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
The Sand – Forgiveness is a divine attribute we can practice, as Jesus Christ does. We draw closer to Heavenly Father as we learn to forgive those around us. We cannot expect to receive forgiveness for our sins unless the same be freely given. See Matthew 18:23-35 about the King, Servant and Fellowservant. Forgive your debtors – those who trespass against you.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)