The steps to repentence/forgiveness are as follows.
- recognize that you have done wrong (oops. that didn't go right.)
- don't repeat the wronging (never again...)
- recommit yourself to living a better life (yay! party!)
- make restitution for the wrongs you committed (that means apologize. duh)
- feel remorse for the wronging (awh. i hate this feeling.)
- know that repentence requires time and effort (how much longer!?)
- resolve the feelings of retribution (no hard feelings... right?)
- receive forgiveness (from everyone)
So we had this lesson in sunday school and the whole time, I just had this nagging feeling that I hadn't fulfilled my repentence. There are a couple of girls that I've had rough friendships with and the second my teacher said "Our lesson is on repentance", I felt the pit in my stomach grow. Throughout the whole lesson, it just kept getting deeper and deeper. I promised myself that I would do what I had to do when I got home to make the whole situation better with those girls. I've been feeling remorse from what I've done for a while now, and since I moved schools, it has gotten worse. I feel terrible for everything that I have done in these fights we've been in and I needed to do my part to make it better.
Today, I sent a long, heartfelt email to the 2 girls apologizing for every thing I'd ever said, thought or done to them that hurt them. I asked their forgiveness and I sincerely apologized. The minute I clicked the "Send" button, I immediately felt better. The pit that had grown on Sunday was gone. I know that I did my part in the apology and I took another step in repentence.
*haybayy*