In Luke Chapter 22 verses 42-44, it is recorded that the Savior entered the Garden of Gethsemane and there he atoned for ALL of our sins. In this supreme act of love he sweat great drops of blood. I don’t think that was a walk in the park. How many times do we look up to heaven and question the fairness of it all. How many of us are accused unfairly or betrayed by someone close to us and ask the same question? Then we usually turn right around and say well karma is going to get them. What if I told you that the atonement has no effect unless we forgive and repent for the hardness in our own hearts. How do we ever expect the atonement to have a place in our lives if we don’t do the right things too. Granted we all try to do the right thing but we are certainly not perfect. There really only was one perfect person and he was accused unfairly, he was betrayed, he probably questioned the fairness of it all yet he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. Immediately after this and while he was still weak from dropping all that blood he was betrayed and accused, he was beaten with whips that had pointy things on them. Then he was sentenced to death on the cross, he also had to carry that cross himself. In the end his haters had nails driven through his hands, wrists and feet and given nasty stuff to drink when he got thirsty. Are you any better than him? The point is that we all fall short, some of us fall really really short, but one thing I am sure of is that we are all trying. Yes, people can be mean. People can hurt us and sometimes it can really feel like they can destroy us. I’ve had my share of difficult circumstances, but I have chosen how it was going to affect me. Sure there were times when I literally would beg my Heavenly Father that somebody would call me or text me and check on me. Still it took 8 long months before somebody showed up. Somebody who said they felt they should have stopped over sooner. I got through it. I survived with Heavenly Father’s help. I felt unfairly accused of starving my child, people would turn their backs on me at church even. It was difficult, but I am no better than Jesus Christ and he suffered more than I did. Do I get upset, hurt and angry when the same things happen to me? I sure do automatically and immediately!! After I calm down I remember that there is someone who suffered more than me and took on ALL these things…..ALL OF THEM!! I don’t have to hurt. I can be thankful that I am alive and experiencing living and when those times come when it really does cut a little too close to my heart….I take it up with Heavenly Father and he soothes my pain through the power of Jesus Christ’s atonement. Then I thank him for giving me the opportunity to grow closer to Him.