But apparently the world doesn't need my poor review of Allegiant--the third book in the Divergent series. There's enough negative reviews of it out there already.
So instead I will write about the one passage of excellent thought that stood out to me in the book.
It's when Triss' brother (who betrayed her terribly) is trying to redeem himself, and asks her if she will be able to forgive him. Triss considers this in her mind:
"To me, when someone wrongs you, you both share the burden of that wrongdoing--the pain of it weighs on both of you. Forgiveness, then, means choosing to bear the full weight all by yourself. Caleb's betrayal is something we both carry, and since he did it, all I've wanted is for him to take its weight away from me. I am not sure that I'm capable of shouldering it all myself--not sure that I am strong enough, or good enough." (p. 410)I know that is truth.
To be able to truly forgive someone, we must be willing to take the full burden on ourselves. If we are still holding out for the person that has wronged us to "make it up to us" some how, or take away the weight of that burden they unfairly placed on us, we will never find the peace that comes from true forgiveness.
Healing comes when we are willing "bear the full weight all by yourself." However, her last line about not being "strong enough or good enough" is also true. We are not strong enough or good enough, only Jesus Christ is, and to find true peace through forgiveness, we must take the entirety of the burden, and then hand it, completely, over to the Lord.
“He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12; emphasis added).
The Savior has suffered not just for our iniquities but also for the inequality, the unfairness, the pain, the anguish, and the emotional distresses that so frequently beset us. There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey that the Savior did not experience first. You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out, “No one understands. No one knows.” No human being, perhaps, knows. But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did. And because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy in so many phases of our life. He can reach out, touch, succor—literally run to us—and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do through relying upon only our own power. (Elder David A. Bednar)
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
I am grateful this Easter season for my Savior #BecauseofHim I can forgive. Because of Him I have forgiven. The burden I thought was too great to bear, and which was placed on me unfairly, has been removed.
I have peace.
I have love.
I have hope.
Because of Him.
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