Tuesday, July 14, 2015

The Sweet Memory of Past Sin

sacrifice

That title probably sounds weird…even wrong.  No memory of sin should be sweet.  Of course not, but bear with me.  Many of you know I am a homeschool mom.  My oldest daughter will be reading St. Augustine’s Confessions this fall.  I’ve been re-reading it in order to write a discussion guide for us to use.  I came across this passage:

“I must now carry my thoughts back to the abominable things I did in those days….the memory is bitter, but it will help me to savour your sweetness, the sweetness that does not deceive but brings real joy and never fails.”  ~ st. augustine

That completely changed my view of the past.  While before it brought me low and I used it as a warning never to allow myself to be deceived again. It’s different now. Sweeter.  It’s still a good reminder to beware, but now it also draws me into praise. 

My Savior gave himself as a sacrifice, so that I could be at peace before my God.  Now, instead of being weighed down with guilt, I smell the sweet aroma of the sacrificial atonement.  No wonder the Old Testament sacrifices were such a pleasing aroma to God.  They brought to His mind the willing love and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Now, if something reminds me of the past, I think of the Savior’s gift and look toward the future, where I will dwell with my God. When I do that, my heart swells with love and praise for him.  That is definitely sweet.

 

2 comments:

dogchow said...

I was just thinking of this when I read your comments and I felt that this was connected. From LDS.org regarding fasting it says: “Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.” (D&C 59:14.) Rejoicing means to express joy, and joy is the reason for man’s existence. (2 Ne. 2:25.)
Fasting, then, is an activity that brings us back to the state of being for which we were created.
The bitter also helps us better to understand and appreciate this, as you expressed.
And all of these things are connected with the Savior's love and atonement for you and me, individually.
Thank you for your thoughts.

Annmarie said...

Thank you for sharing that, dogchow.