thanks, I never thought of Judas as a lesson about not trying to fix our own mistakes...
Asking for forgiveness is the first step in acknowledging not only that we have done wrong but that we are unable to repair it on our own. It is part of the "become as a little child" teaching that I still have trouble with. I want to fix things by myself. But I can't. Only with the help of the Lord and a humble and repentant spirit can I attempt to make amends.