Taking offense

Lately I have struggled with taking offense, likely when absolutely no offense was meant. I find myself recycling these thoughts over and over and then I'll pray or read scriptures and be done with it and then maybe something else small will happen or something will spur those feelings of insecurity again. I know better, from the bottom of my heart I know they probably don't mean anything by it but having had an insane amount of positive affirmation in my life I don't deal well with anything that is not praise apparently.

I was searching the scriptures and really didn't even know where to start . . this time on my little journey for peace (Which by the way, I'm actually glad when little things like this happen and send me straight to my knees). I decided to go to lds.org and did a search on "offense." I read this article by David Bednar. This talk brings me self reflection and peace.

I particularly love this paragraph

In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation.

WE choose, WE get offended, WE feel angry, WE CHOOSE!!!!

Another paragraph I just love!!!

During a perilous period of war, an exchange of letters occurred between Moroni, the captain of the Nephite armies, and Pahoran, the chief judge and governor of the land. Moroni, whose army was suffering because of inadequate support from the government, wrote to Pahoran “by the way of condemnation” (Alma 60:2) and harshly accused him of thoughtlessness, slothfulness, and neglect. Pahoran might easily have resented Moroni and his message, but he chose not to take offense. Pahoran responded compassionately and described a rebellion against the government about which Moroni was not aware. And then he responded, “Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul. … And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart” (Alma 61:2, 9).

One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weaknesses, the inexperience, and the potentially offensive actions of others. A thing, an event, or an expression may be offensive, but you and I can choose not to be offended—and to say with Pahoran, “it mattereth not.”

It mattereth not!!! What beautiful words. Oh, that I will be that strong some day. I also LOVE this example becasue it is proof to me that we DO NOT know the circumstances of others, what might make them act a certain way, etc. I like to think that most people are good, kind people who want happiness for others, but we all have STUFF going on and are shaped by circumstances and time. We are not perfect and we are not all knowing, we need to love an accept people knowing that we don't know what they are feeling or struggling with.

Last night we were reading about Christ dying on the cross for scripture study and Christ said, "forgive them for they know not what they do." The empathy and love of the Savior. . . . Truly the best example.

I must admit that I am falling quite in love with the Book of Mormon lately. My former favorite was the New Testament learning from the Savior's life is so incredible. I must say though- without question the Book of Mormon is the WORD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!