Forgiveness

I have found a certain amount of peace lately that I'd like to share.

When you hurt someone, whether unintentionally or intentionally, the Holy Ghost begins pricking your conscience. Why does the Holy Ghost do that?

How do you respond to the Holy Ghost telling you that what you did was wrong? Do you get angry? Do you blame the other person for MAKING you do what you did? Do you say, 'well it wasn't THAT bad.'

Or do you admit what you did was wrong and then go back and fix the problem?

This is what I meant that I am so bothered when people say, 'I was only doing the best I can.' That is so wrong to say that when you really need to repent.

Not too long ago I was quite careless in one of my choices and it had awful consequences. I took my family of 3 little ones over to visit a sibling of mine on the day they brought their brand newborn baby home from the hospital. We stayed at their house for 2 and 1/2 hours, unintentionally. (My sibling went back into the back bedroom for the 2 and 1/2 hours and I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye) Well, if you've had a baby, you know what it can be like those first days with a new little one. And that's where I should have been sensitive, but I wasn't-- especially since I've had 3 of my own) My family member was furious at our being there for so long, and she let us know it-- in a not-so-gentle way (and who would be gentle under those circumstances?) My sibling had even warned me beforehand how she is especially fragile after having a baby. Well, our relationship has never been the same after that. We apologized to my sibling over and over again. But my sibling won't forgive us. And now there is complete estrangement from my sibling because of it.

Even though my sibling chooses not to forgive me, I have had to forgive myself for what I did to her, and seek God's forgiveness of me too. I am so sorry and regretful. I've also found that I now have to forgive my sibling for not forgiving me.