This year, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.
-Howard W. Hunter
A good friend sent my husband and me a Christmas card that included this quotation. We're not normally inspirational-quote people, but this one hit home for us. We've been trying for a long time, and even more so since the birth of our son, to mend a relationship in our family. We tried again this Christmas. 'Tis the season and all. But we failed spectacularly. So we ended last year on a sad note, though we hope that the new year will bring good things, or, at the very least, enough time and space to heal.
I am wishing for more caring in the new year. I am wishing to move on from this a stronger person and a stronger family. I am wishing for peace and happiness for my family, for your family, and yes, even for the person who refuses to reconcile.
May you have better luck than us in your relationships, and if there's one you've been hesitating to mend, can I just say that the new year is a great time for a fresh start? Forgive and forget and begin again.
Sending my love out to all of you,
Allison
a beautiful quotation allison, i can so see why it means so much to you and your husband. it made me sad to read that your attempt at mending a relationship fell through, but i love that you tried, and your attitude of forgiveness and compassion is so precious. wishing you peace joy and love in 2014!
ReplyDeleteNice quote. Sorry it didn't work out for you.
ReplyDeleteBeen there also and I've decided the aggravation is not worth it. I won't pretend to be someone I'm not and if they can't handle that, too bad. I'm too old to put up with BS like that, honestly. I know who matters in my life and that's all that matters. Focus on the pluses my BFF wrote. Yep. You bet.
What a beautiful message and even though you weren't able to mend things this time around, I hope that time will help ease whatever pain or resentment this person feels, enough for you all to try again. You have other wonderful things to focus on (like your baby and husband) ~ much love for 2014.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words, both from Mr Hunter and from you. I'm sorry you weren't able to mend that relationship. We have some breaks in our family too and were just talking about this exact subject last night. Lack of communication or misunderstanding is usually the source and then is just snowballs.
ReplyDeleteI wish you peace, and mended bridges, in 2014. :)
I'm sorry the relationship you're trying to mend didn't work out. people can be painfully stubborn that way, I know I am. I hope all your wishes come true this year.
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