Jealous Much? Stop it!!

Today I had lunch with Mr and I said to him - "I don't know why some people don't like so n so - I do, we do, so why do some people not?" Mr replied and said "whenever someone doesn't like someone else they are jealous of them - it always comes down to that..." When I was at my last job he used to tell me this all the time before propping me up and sending me back in and I never got it then and I don't get it now. I have never been jealous of what another person has. I have had a quick peak, and sometimes I wished Mr would make enough money so we could have one like it - but never felt anything harmful towards that person. I genuinely celebrate in people's successes....

But I am not innocent. I may not be jealous of people but I'm wicked at judging and if it was an olympic sport I would be a gold medalist, world champion holding concurrent world and olympic world records. A friend of mine told me once that I judge people too harshly and quickly. He should know he was my boss at the time and although not a member of my faith - he was and is, the best example of someone who was slow to judge and someone I respect for this. His counsel has always stayed on my mind since then and I am trying harder.....

So what d'ya know a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to listen to one of my favourite speakers Deiter Uchtdorf and he talked about judging others and it could have blown me over and I felt like he was talking directly to me!! I didn't see it with everyone else, I was watching a recorded version and even then I was squirming in my seat ;-) He counseled me to stop it with these words: "It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters. We must recognize that we are all imperfect—that we are beggars before God. Haven’t we all, at one time or another, meekly approached the mercy seat and pleaded for grace? Haven’t we wished with all the energy of our souls for mercy—to be forgiven for the mistakes we have made and the sins we have committed? Because we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves?

He then went on to give us all a little self-test:

"Do you harbor a grudge against someone else?

Do you gossip, even when what you say may be true?

Do you exclude, push away, or punish others because of something they have done?

Do you secretly envy another?

Do you wish to cause harm to someone?
And in response he says "If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to apply the two-word sermon from earlier: stop it!"
and closed his comments with the following:

"Brothers and sisters, there is enough heartache and sorrow in this life without our adding to it through our own stubbornness, bitterness, and resentment. We are not perfect. The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way. Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way. Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive. Lay your burden at the Savior’s feet. Let go of judgment. Allow Christ’s Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one another. The merciful will obtain mercy."

His words are sooooo noted in my little world of knowing that I have taken this to be my number one challenge for 2012 to stop it! To stop judging harshly and quickly. To remember that no one is perfect - including me. And most of all - I am going to continue on my pathway of letting go.... Its going to take some time.... I'll let you know how I go.

Yours in friendship, Mxo