A key characteristic of the Savior’s ministry was that He responded to evil with good. He expects the same from His disciples: “If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” (Matthew 5:46-47).
There is nothing remarkable about being nice to people who are nice to us. That’s just human nature. Jesus calls us to do more. “Love your enemies,” He said, “bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, 3 Nephi 12:44).
Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would give us “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3). Last weekend, Sister Kristin M. Yee explained that when we forgive others and choose not to perpetuate unkindness, we also fulfill this prophecy:
To all within our influence, we can offer kindness for cruelty, love for hate, gentleness for abrasiveness, safety for distress, and peace for contention.
To give what you have been denied is a powerful part of divine healing possible through faith in Jesus Christ. To live in such a way that you give, as Isaiah has said, “beauty” for the “ashes” of your life is an act of faith that follows the supreme example of the Savior who suffered all that He might succor all.
“Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness,” General Conference, October 2022
Today, I will give beauty for ashes. When I feel that I have been treated unfairly, I will respond with generosity and love. I will choose to speak and act in a way that increases the good in the world instead of perpetuating or amplifying the evil.
The song that came to mind as I read this today was –
“ Give,” said the little stream,
“Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.”
“Give,” said the little stream,
As it hurried down the hill;
“I’m small, I know, but wherever I go
The fields grow greener still.”
[Chorus]
Singing, singing all the day,
“Give away, oh! give away.”
Singing, singing all the day,
“Give, oh! give away.”
2. “Give,” said the little rain,
“Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.”
“Give,” said the little rain,
As it fell upon the flow’rs;
“I’ll raise their drooping heads again,”
As it fell upon the flow’rs.
[Chorus]
Singing, singing all the day,
“Give away, oh! give away.”
Singing, singing all the day,
“Give, oh! give away.”
3. Give, then, as Jesus gives,
Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.
Give, then, as Jesus gives;
There is something all can give.
Do as the streams and blossoms do:
For God and others live.
[Chorus]
Singing, singing all the day,
“Give away, oh! give away.”
Singing, singing all the day,
“Give, oh! give away.”
I will remember and keep this song as I go about my day to help keep my mind on helping others through their day.
Thank you for sharing your reaction to the post. I’m glad the post brought a song to mind, and I appreciate you sharing it with me. Have a great day!