Repentance: A Joyful Choice

So in our scripture study tonight we were in the Book of Enos.  One simple chapter, but very focused on the Savior and His redeeming mission.  We had a family discussion about how to repent and what the results of repentance are and how we know when we are forgiven.  A couple of the boys shared experiences when they repented and felt forgiven and shared their testimonies of Jesus Christ and how they know He will forgive anyone.

We then spent some time talking about some of the things that we each needed to repent of that day and how we would go about doing that.  We all shared some way in which we had offended God and a member (or multiple members) of our family or friends.  We discussed how to go about taking care of it completely and not just be forgiven, but to improve our lives and be better.  Jesus' grace is more than just forgiveness, it is also sanctifying... meaning that He wants to make us holy as He is holy.  However, that requires that we act in faith, however imperfectly.

Little Evelyn identified that she had yelled at her Mom today and talked about how she could fix that.  She apologized to Amber and gave her a hug.  I thought that might be the end of it.  However, it was her turn for the family prayer tonight, and after only one or two sentences she broke down crying and started asking Heavenly Father to forgive her.  Her emotions got the best of her to the point where she needed me to help her finish the prayer.  This little four year old showed why Jesus asks us on multiple occasions to become like a little child.  There was no effort to cover the sin, she was completely vulnerable to the Lord and pleading for that forgiveness.  She was ready to receive what God wants to desperately to give.

That is an experience I will not soon forget.  At the end of her prayer she hugged me, sobbing, and then went to Amber and hugged her again.  It was special, very special!  So grateful to have been present for that holy moment!