"...the Lord has spoken clearly that we are to restore as much as possible that which has been lost" p. 216
NOT QUICKLY OR EASILY RESOLVED
"While confessing and forsaking sins can sometimes be done quickly, restoring can require much more time, perhaps a lifetime." p. 217
"There are times when one who has been deeply injured is not quick to forgive." p. 217-18
"There are many wrongs that cannot be made right by the one who has hurt or offended, and there is pain and suffering that cannot be fully repaired." p. 218
"An important understanding of restitution is realizing that Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins, becomes our creditor." p. 218
"His love can bind and heal your wounds, however deep or old they may be." p. 219
"Repentance means much more than saying 'I'm sorry'". p. 221
GOD'S LOVE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED
"Chastity and virtue are spiritual qualities determined by our own choices and cherished by God. No one can rob or take these away from you." p. 222
"There is a supernal, heavenly love for the innocent that have been harmed by the evil acts of others." p. 222
"Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I promise you that you will receive compensatory blessings for the injustices thrust upon your life." p. 223
LANCE
As Lance and Hailey's relationship has evolved, Lance has been pretty up front with Hailey about his past pornography issues. She knows he is still figuring out this problem. She has listened and has been supportive, but one day, they had been walking through a park and sat down to just talk and enjoy the pretty Spring day.
In the middle of their chat, Hailey became quiet and Lance could tell she was thinking about something important.
"Everything ok?" he asked.
"Um," Hailey hesitated, "Can I ask you about your ... about your pornography issue?"
Lance was a little surprised, "Uh ... sure." He could feel the blood rushing to his head. This was never an easy topic to talk about.
Hailey continued, "My last boyfriend had a pornography problem, too, but he never told me about it. I didn't find out about it until we had dated for about 6 months. I really liked this guy and I thought I was going to marry him, but then he told me about the pornography and I just didn't know I could trust him, so I broke up with him. He got mad at me and told a lot of people how judgmental I was and that I wasn't willing to help him and forgive him."
They sat in silence for a moment or two.
"So, it was ok to tell you about my problem up front, right?" Lance asked.
Hailey hesitated again. "Um...yes. Definitely. I just ... I don't know ... I just want to make sure that if this doesn't work out between us, you don't do the same thing he did."
Lance smiled quizzically, "Are you breaking up with me?"
Hailey grinned, "No, that's what I'm saying. In fact, I'm saying the opposite. I really like you, Lance. It wasn't that I wasn't willing to work with the other guy through his problem. It was more that he just expected me to accept it without even asking me how I felt about it and then he spread rumors about how judgey I was. He hurt me."
Lance hugged her and then looked her in the eyes, "The reason I told you about my problem shortly after we started dating is that I wanted to make sure you knew that I was working on something difficult and that I was trying to change. I wanted you to know the real me. I didn't want to keep anything from you. I'm so far from perfect, but I'm trying. I will never purposefully hurt you. I want to be as honest as I know how to be."
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