The Peacegiver - “Being mistreated is the most important condition of mortality, for eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us.”

 

For many years The Peacegiver by James L. Ferrell has been on my bookshelf.   I don’t remember who recommended it, I don’t remember why they recommended it, but over the past week it seemed to be calling to me..so I pulled it down from it’s resting place on the shelf, moved it to my nightstand and I finished it in 2 days.  It tells the story of a man, a simple man just like many of us (woman included), who needs to understand who our Savior really is. The picture of Our Savior on the cover made me think….Don’t we all need to learn what Christ is capable of accomplishing in our lives if given the chance?

Definitely a lesson I need to learn. It’s easy to forget, or feel unworthy of what we see or read about the Savior. It seems like another place, another time, another more humble and deserving individual. That’s the place where the main character, Rick Carson, finds himself. He is lost in his own sorrow and bitterness for what feels like a failed marriage and a failed life.

The story begins about a man and woman whose marriage is just on the brink of falling apart. They fight all the time, they are disrespectful and with no love in the home the children are becoming victims of a family about to dissolve. The husband of the story is visited by his grandfather in his dreams and is taught 3 lessons from different stories in the bible. The story of Abigail, the story of Jonah and the story of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

This book has given me a totally new perspective on the Atonement. I understand how the Atonement applies to sin, to losing a loved one, and pain. However, I never really thought about how the Atonement could apply to me when I had been mistreated, when I judge someone or a different perspective on Gethsemane.

After reading I feel more at peace, I know I will now be quicker to say sorry, and my love for family, friends, and neighbors just grew by leaps and bounds.  Does that mean I have arrived??? Heavens no…but it is a start to a new beginning!

A few highlights for me – you know those sticky note tabs

“Being mistreated is the most important condition of mortality, for eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us.” 

"You don't discover love by demanding love from others. You discover it by learning to love others yourself. Unless you find a way to love, my love, or anyone else's, won't help you. You discover love by learning to love others. There is no other way."

“My peace is not determined by others- whether they be righteous or not- but by myself.  Or rather, my peace is determined by whether I come to Christ myself.  For when I come to him, he blesses me with his mercy, and basking in that mercy I find peace.  Whether others come to Christ- Nineveh and Nabal, for example- will determine their peace but not mine.”  The Nephites came most readily to Christ when things were hardest and their burdens greatest.” “But she still makes it harder, doesn’t she?” “It only seems that way because you find it easier to sin toward those who sin toward you.  But it is your sin, not theirs, that is the source of your struggle.  Carol cannot keep you from me.  Only you can.”

This book comes with my HIGHEST recommendation. As the world is feeling the cruel pull of economic hardships and the sifting of right and wrong has begun, people are getting angry, depressed and hopeless. There is always hope. If you need a refresher then read this book!