Patricia's Perspective

I love Sister Patricia Holland, wife of Elder Jeffery R. Holland.  I've never met her.  But I have heard her speak at Women's Conference and read many of her talks and also the book, "On Earth as it is in Heaven" written by her and Elder Holland.  She touches my heart deeply and I feel a kindred spirit towards her.

I've read the previously mentioned book several times.  It's a treasure trove of spiritual treasures.  Tonight I opened it to resume reading where I left off a few months ago, but somehow I opened to this part instead, and it was perfect for this blog and the Law of Attraction perspective.  It's in Chapter 4 "The Fruits of Peace" where she is talking about learning to love and forgive others.  One profound thought starts with a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball:

"As we try to overlook whatever others have done to us, we will begin to let go of all that has been hard to forgive in ourselves.  We will feel peace and wholeness, and we will remember that the Lord suffered for our sins so we could experience at-one-ment with him, with our neighbors, and, very importantly, within ourselves."  (Faith Precedes the Miracle pg. 190-96)

Patricia says that even though we may not always see it, God surrounds us with other people whose weaknesses are like our own.  "A good relationship is not one in which perfection reigns; rather, it is one in which a healthy perspective simply overlooks the faults of others."

She recommends a practice.  "For one day, make a note each time you critically evaluate someone.  This doesn't have to be a spoken criticism....it is important to note each time you pass even unspoken judgment.  ...then the next day, see if you can go the entire day without being critical or petty toward anyone."

Then this is the part that is most relevant to BIY and LOA:  "Remember that whatever you toss out mentally or verbally comes back to you according to God's plan of compensation: 'For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.' (Matthew 7:2)  A critical, petty, or vicious remark is simply an attack on our own self-worth.  On the other hand, if our minds are constantly seeing good in others, that, too, will return, and we will truly feel good about ourselves."

Sending out love can be very hard at times.  Especially to all people, as God has commanded us, to love everyone.  But Patricia says, "I bear this witness: There is in this world much that can be accomplished only with the help of God.  If He tells us to love, He will give us the power to do so."

And that love will come back to us enabling us to love ourselves and others even more.