Our journey through the process of repentance.

Last night J asked if I would stop by ACE on the way home from basketball practice, and pick up a Proclamation for Large Animals. As I left the store, H was right behind me. We got in the van and waited a minute for L to come out. When he approached the van, his hand was in his shorts pocket and it looked a little full. I asked him what was in his pocket. He hung his head, and pulled a large, pink, bouncy ball out. I asked him what he was doing with it. He said, "I really want one." I told him that he needed to go back in the store and return it. H and I waited and watched as L took it back. He came back to the van, and we had a long chat on the way home about being honest. He was terrified to go into the house and tell J. Although reluctant, he ran in, threw himself onto the recliner and hid under a blanket. I whispered to J what had happened. J was so cute, he walked over to L, picked him up and began rocking him. He talked to him for quite some time, and told him that it would be good for him to go back to ACE in the morning and admit what he had done.

Well, morning came, and I read scriptures with the kids. We read about being truly repentant. We talked about the steps of repenting and how when we do something wrong, we need to go through all of the steps to be forgiven. L looked at me and said, "Well, if I am going to be baptized soon, I better do all of those steps. I don't want to, but I can't ever get forgiven if I don't. And I want to be baptized and be clean. "

A few minutes later, L and I drove to ACE to talk with the manager. He just happened to be outside opening up when we drove in. We walked over to him and I said, "L has something he would like to say to you." Of course I started to cry. The owner smiled at me, and patted me on the shoulder. He then bent down on L's level and said, "L, let's go have a talk." He walked with L over to a bench and sat down. He began talking to him about making choices, and choosing the right one. He then asked L if there was something he would like to tell him. L said yes, and proceeded. He then asked him how he felt when he took the bouncy ball. Then he asked how he felt when he took it back. And then asked him how he felt now after admitting what he had done. He told him that he was proud of his choice of returning the ball, admitting what he had done, and apologizing for doing it. He told him that he was L's friend, and his parent's friend as well. He told him that he wanted him to come back and shop there. He even wanted him to say hello to him when ever he saw him. He shook L's hand and encouraged him to continue to make good choices.

L and I returned home with me sobbing all the way. I again talked with L and told him how proud I was of him for righting his wrong. And reminded him that the choices we make don't only effect the person who makes them. He then said, "After I tell Heavenly Father about it, and tell him I'm sorry, then will I be able to be baptized?
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I smiled, hugged him, and let L know that he was well on his way in his repentance process, and that he would be forgiven.

How grateful I am to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for his atoning sacrifice for me, and for my little family. How blessed I am to have the scriptures in my life, and to be able to teach my children from them. I know that through repenting, we become closer to Christ.