I served a mission in Japan -  Sendai, Morioka, and Fukushima to be exact. Recently, many people died from a Tsunami and an earthquake. They didn’t have time to say good bye to loved ones. They weren’t prepared for what happened. Remember 9/11, it was the relationships that mattered most.

People who have a terminal disease realize how important relationships are and start to forgive. They try to mend relationships and cherish loved ones before it’s too late.  If they do become united with loved ones, they often have a renewal of their health.

It’s easy to hold grudges and be mad at people who bother you when you think that you have a lot of time left on this earth. How will you ever get through it?

I just received this thought recently from insightoftheday.com:

Booker T. Washington learned the lessons of love and forgiveness even though he and his people suffered persecution by whites, who were judgmental.

• “It is now long ago that I resolved that I would permit no man, no matter what his colour might be, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.”

Booker T. Washington
1856-1915, Educator and Author

Back in Booker’s day, he was black and hated by whites. But, he didn’t return the hate to whites. I like his attitude and can learn a lot from it.

In John 9:4, Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

What this means is that this life is the time to mend your fences, to do whatever work you have to do. You never know when disaster can strike in your life or when it will be too late for you.

It's a good feeling to have relationship fences in good repair.

I imagine a wide green field around myself with a lengthy fence also all around me. There are parts that are broken, but most of it is good.

To me the fence represents all the relationships in my life and how I will feel more whole and healthy if it is all in good repair. Studies have shown the benefits to the immune system, health, and heart when a person has a good social network.

In the Book of Mormon, Amulek talks about this life being the time to prepare to meet God as shown in this scripture link Alma 34:32 .  This inspires me to do better, because I’d like to be ready and have all my fences mended when it’s my turn to leave this life.

There is a mind/body connection. So for your health, learn to be less judgmental and critical and start mending the important relationships in your life.