I went to Idaho for the fourth of July. My sister lives in Idaho Falls. After a day there, it is very clear to me why the Eternal plan we're part of is a family-centered one.
There's a connection that comes with family, even extended parts of it. The love I feel for my nieces and nephews amazes me, and I'm sure it's dwarfed by the feelings of their parents for them.
My sisters in-laws, whom I've met but am not close to, were around for the holiday. Big family get-together at the park. The whole group probably had close to two dozen children.
There's no reason for that group of individuals to get together except for the fact that they're family. And I don't know, but if they're like any other family, there's baggage they overcome in order to get together and be nice.
But I think that's the point. Family is so close and has such potential for love and joy, but is still full of imperfect, sinful people who hurt themselves and each other. I think that hurt can be exacerbated by the fact that the pain comes when there should be such love and devotion.
But that's the lesson, I think. Forgiving family has the greatest potential to show us the fruits of real forgiveness, because no matter the pain, the disloyalty, or the betrayal, forgiving one's family means that all the same potential for love and joy is still there. And choosing forgiveness lets you experience that, while holding grudges means you won't.
Just like the big plan.
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