the Name of the Game

I was talking with a friend today (ok, more like I was listening to a friend today), and I just kept thinking about how much this person was blaming everyone and everything else other than themself for their issues and problems and hard times.... i.e. I blame my friends for not understanding how I feel, I blame her for thinking too much about herself and not being attentive to my needs, I blame my teacher for not listening to me, I blame my pastor for being a normal man, I blame what happened for my current problems. I mean, I feel so bad for this friend, because they have been through so many terrible and awful things; I understand that. Listening to them has just made me realize how much the gospel really does play a part in my life... I mean, I know I can blame people unreasonably a lot, too, but I just feel the comfort that if I or when I have to go through something big like that, I can understand it, through Heavenly Father. I can forgive and move on. I think my friend was right when they said they would never be able to forget or get that part of their soul back, but I find comfort in knowing that through Christ, I will be able to forgive, love, and grow again.

Other people may not understand what they've gone through; I don't understand the depths of all that this person has had to endure, but I feel we need to act hoping people will treat us kindly and with love and respect, but prepared for the possibility that they will not be, and will be normal, fallible, sometimes disappointing or annoying human beings. I know that I myself am one of the most normal, fallible, disappointing, and annoying human beings around some days. But I hope people begin to realize I am trying to change that. I hope my friend will have faith not only in the Lord, but in the people around them; that they are beautiful and good people at heart and they are trying their best. Sometimes other people's best doesn't seem good enough for us, but I have to remember that it is good enough for our Heavenly Father. It is days like this that truly make me realize that the Lord knows what he's doing when he brings two people together. I have so much to learn.