Tracy Vitela

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I Must Embrace Forgiveness

Last month, I finished my time with Luke and decided to pray about my next study. God guided me towards Moses. Naturally, I began from the very beginning. Perhaps God knew that Moses had some valuable lessons to teach me, preparing me for the transitions that I was about to embark on. Little did I realize at the time...

As I began my study about Moses, I stumbled on the remarkable story about Joseph. Joseph’s story is unbelievable, bringing me tears and leaving me in awe. For Joseph had every reason to be angry, to hold onto every single bit of resentment, his narrative is breathtaking. But his story turned beautiful when he revealed himself to his brothers. Not only did he reveal himself he saved them. no resentment, no anger, he let go of how much they hurt him and love them incredibly. Then the moment he came home to Jacob, my heart overfilled, it’s simply so beautiful. 

This week in a conversation about work and life, the story of Joseph came up. I thought to myself, I just studied all that and was in love with a story. Then, again this morning someone else brought this exact story up. I sat back and took it in. Ok God, you’re speaking to me, I hear you, but why, I asked him ... .What do you need me to learn from Joseph’s story? 

I had a revelation: I knew exactly what he was after. It became crystal clear what I needed to do in my little corner of the world, in my own life, for myself and my loved ones.

I must embrace forgiveness.

Hanging onto resentment, anger and pain. Replaying them on a loop in my head is absolute torture. And each time the pain happens again, it awakens it all. And I’m not quite like Joseph, not yet. But I want to be. 

God has always been my master teacher, constantly upgrading my knowledge. My knowledge in the gospel, and in myself. It’s like he's doing laundry on my mind and soul, removing all the stubborn stains. We go through this cycle of learning, getting cleaner with every round. And I treasure these lessons, because they empower me to guide and support others as I grow.

Learning to let go of the pain, resentment, and anger. They're too heavy to carry around. There are parts of me and my story that nobody knows or sees, but I won’t let that bring me down. Some days are tougher than others, overcoming trauma and triggers. But I will remember to hold on to my faithfulness, just like Moses did. His faith was undeniable. 

As the leaves start to fall, I pray for anyone needing healing during times of their own transitions. I pray for anyone embarking on new chapters and facing challenges along the way. I pray for those who give their best but still stumble and fall. Most importantly, I pray for restoration in each and every one of your lives. I pray this for my life as well. 

Today and every day going forward, I will work on embracing Joseph's wisdom and embody his empathy, forgiveness, and love. I pray that I can become more like him, spreading positivity and compassion wherever I go.