Days of Repentance

Grandmom

Shalom shalom, family. Welcome back to Repentance. I'm Grandmom, and I'm here with my dear brother Kevin. Today, we're diving into something real close to my heart—doing days of repentance. Now, if you listened last time, you know we talked about how repentance ain't about shame, but about love and growth. This time, we're gonna get into the nitty gritty of how we actually do it in community.

Kevin

Hey y'all, it's Kevin. I'm excited for this one, Grandmom. I gotta admit, when I first heard about "days of repentance," I thought it sounded kinda strict, you know? Like, is this a punishment or what? But the way you explained it before, it's more like a code—a way to organize your life around getting better, not beating yourself up.

Grandmom

That's right, brother. In our Community Rule, we got this code of behavior, and it's all about doing days of repentance for errors in keeping virtues. It's not just for big ol' sins, either. We got different lengths—four days, ten days, twenty-two, even forty days—depending on what you need to work on. Four days is for those little things, like, well, let me tell you a story from my childhood. My stepdaddy, he used to swear something fierce. My mama, she didn't like that, so she taught us boys to use slang instead. Now, in our community, those slang words? We call 'em "four-day words." If you say one, you do four days of repentance. The real hard swears words, those are "ten-day words." You see how it goes?

Kevin

So, wait, you actually keep track of how many days you gotta do for each thing? Like, if I slip up and say "shoot" or "darn," that's four days? And if I go all the way, that's ten?

Grandmom

Exactly. And it's not just about counting days, it's about what you do with those days. Each day, you reflect, you pray, you try to understand why you did what you did. I remember, I kept slipping up with those four-day words. I was embarrassed before the Lord, thinking He might not believe I was sincere. But I kept at it, asking for help, and one day, He showed me—when I felt like folks weren't listening to me, I'd use slang to get their attention. Once I saw that, I could change it. And I haven't said one of those words in thirty years. It's about learning, not just apologizing.

Kevin

Man, that's deep. I like how it's not just about the mistake, but about figuring out what's underneath it. And the different lengths—like, four days for little stuff, ten for things that mess with your relationships, twenty-two for those deep habits from way back, and forty for the big, life-changing things. That's a whole system.

Grandmom

It is, brother. And we keep notes, too. Some folks write down what they're learning each day, so the change sticks. It's sacred time, just you and the Lord, but the community's there to support you, not judge you.

Kevin

You know, Grandmom, that makes me think about how folks react to being corrected. Like, out in the world, if someone calls you out, it feels like an insult. But in your community, it's different, right?

Grandmom

Oh, absolutely. In the world, reproval—being corrected—can feel disrespectful, even humiliating. But among the righteous, it's a blessing. It's an invitation to get closer to the truth, to the Lord. It's not about someone lording over you, it's about helping each other grow. The key is, repentance means changing in relation to the Lord, not just to please the person who corrected you. That's a big difference.

Kevin

Yeah, that's real. I used to get defensive when someone pointed out something I did wrong. But, uh, I remember this one time, I was out in the woods, just sitting by this old oak tree. I was thinking about something a friend said to me—he told me I was too quick to judge folks. At first, I was mad, like, "Who are you to tell me that?" But then, sitting there, I felt this peace, like, maybe he was right. Maybe that was love, not criticism. I started to see correction as a gift, not a threat. It's hard, though. You gotta let go of your pride.

Grandmom

That's beautiful, Kevin. And you know, the reason why you change matters so much. If you're just changing to avoid trouble, or to fit in, that's not real repentance. The Lord never puts you in trouble—He loves you, always. He just wants you to take the steps you can, even if they're baby steps. He'll walk with you, no matter how slow you go.

Kevin

So it's about love, not fear. Changing because you love the Lord, not because you're scared of what folks think. That makes the whole process feel lighter, you know? Like, you're not alone in it.

Grandmom

Exactly. And the Lord won't ask you to change everything at once. He honors the steps you take, even if they're small. That's what makes days of repentance so powerful. It's a journey, not a sprint.

Kevin

I wanna talk about the community part, Grandmom. You mentioned before that folks write their names on a message board when they're on days. That sounds kinda vulnerable—putting your business out there. But I guess it builds trust?

Grandmom

It sure does. We got a board in the village, and when you're on days, you write your name, what you're working on, and what day you're on. Everybody knows, and instead of judging, they support you. At meals, we share what we're learning. It creates this bond—like, we're all in this together. I remember when someone finished a forty-day repentance, the whole community felt it. We saw the change in them, and it gave us hope for our own struggles.

Kevin

That's powerful. And it's not just for "sins," right? Like, you said you did twenty-two days for getting old. That's not a sin, that's just life. But you still needed to change how you handled it, and the community helped you through it.

Grandmom

That's right. Sometimes, you gotta repent for things that aren't wrong, just hard. Like aging, or letting go of old responsibilities. I had to learn to ask for help, to trust others, and to accept new ways. It changed me, even at seventy-five. And the community was there every step, cheering me on, holding me up.

Kevin

I love that. Sharing your struggles and your victories, it makes everybody stronger. It's like, when you see someone else make it through, you believe you can too. And when you fall, you know folks got your back.

Grandmom

That's the heart of it, Kevin. Repentance isn't just personal—it's communal. We lift each other up, and that's how we all get closer to the Lord. Well, I think that's a good place to pause for today. There's so much more to say, but we'll save it for next time.

Kevin

Yeah, I feel like we just scratched the surface. Thanks for sharing your stories, Grandmom. And thank y'all for listening. We'll be back soon with more on this journey of repentance.

Grandmom

Shalom, family. Take care of each other. Bye, Kevin.

Kevin

Bye, Grandmom. Peace, everybody.