Comments on: What a Difference 30 Years Makes

By: m&m

m&m — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:33:05 +0000

I haven’t had an experience like yours, but I have had some experiences that are teaching me about God’s amazing grace in the (sometimes very slow) process of becoming better.

This was a beautiful post. Thank you.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:46:09 +0000

Teenagers will be teenagers…and we’ve all been there. (The fact that you even remember the situation so vividly and regret not being more available shows that you were more thoughtful than most.)

What’s important is that you have grown into a lovely and loving woman, and your mother is fortunate to have you so squarely in her corner when she needs you. I’ll be very grateful if my children are able to be there for me in a similar way one day.

By: Melissa M.

Melissa M. — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:02:16 +0000

I, too, am grateful I’ve been able to redeem myself somewhat after the teenage years. Some of my memories of my behavior make me wince! But thank goodness for a loving Heavenly Father who gives us chance after chance to repent and learn and grow. Thanks so much for this post.

By: nita

nita — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:59:16 +0000

I agree beautiful post! I have some idea of what you mean. When I was a 16 year old teen, I recall one selfish night. My parents had gone to a “sports award” night /banquet w/my other sisters.

I was stuck at home w/my few months old baby sis and my grandma visiting from India. Both were crying (well grandma was calling for me to “gently pound her head”- something that gave comfort to her. ( In retrospect, I think it was love she was seeking, as I recall a time she held my hand). I was frustrated, I had a test for which to study and I felt stuck.

I regret not having been a better granddaughter to the only grandparent I ever met.

I now work as a therapist in a nursing home and try to do my best to help other grandmas/grandparents. But I see the love of those families and I feel bad that I wasn’t more loving to my own grandma. But like you, somehow I find a sort of redemption in working w/the folks at my workplace.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:11:17 +0000

I hope none of us are judged according to our lives as teenagers! Your mother is blessed to have you; that’s all that matters. Thanks for this beautiful post.

By: Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:07:50 +0000

So glad you posted this! It is wonderful! I look forward to many more blogs.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:47:13 +0000

The caregiving at the beginning and end of life (and sometimes the middle too) is such a powerful teacher. It evolves us in powerful ways. Thank you for your post!

By: traci

traci — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:40:37 +0000

Last weekend my sister and i took my mom, who has parkinson’s to 1st Care. It was hard. It was our 1st time together, my sister and I, taking care of mom since dad died. Mom was difficult, my sister thot she was going to faint, and i saw this as the 1st of a long line of events to come.

when my dad was dying i was not working. i was able to go to church w/my mom so she would not be alone. i went everyday to the hospital or house that we were allowed – with infection issues. one day my dad thanked me that i came. i then realized that he didn’t expect that of me – they were surprised. humbling to say the least. we can do hard things – i did and i will – so will we all.

beautiful post!

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:58:25 +0000

I was a terribly selfish youth, I’m sure. But are there children that aren’t? I’m just not sure there are! Don’t be too hard on yourself, and I won’t be either. Thankfully, we’ve got this time to plod forward and grow; if it were required to have it all figured out at 15, I’d be in a lot of trouble.

I know there are always opportunities missed, even now in my life, but I can always keep trying, always always always!

By: Dovie

Dovie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:35:39 +0000

This is so beautiful and true. It brought tears to my eyes. What a wide and beautiful circle mortality makes. Even though I regret and curse the selfishness of my youth, how grateful I am for it at the same time. Though it I see the tender mercies of the Lord, I see and feel the power and work of the Atonement as I have become more than I was before. So even though it hurts sometimes to look back at the same time brim with gratitude. I was just thinking this morning about the regrets I had when earlier this year when my Dad passed away. I thought that perhaps I was finally at a place where those regrets could school me rather than consume me and I was so grateful for that. That place I know is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that all things can be made whole and be perfected through Him. Not just myself but my relationships too. Perhaps not entirely in this life but I know that all things through Him will be made whole.