What lessons does Lily learn from August in The Secret Life of Bees?

The best section of this great novel that can be used to
answer this question is Chapter Twelve, which is when Lily finally has a long overdue
chat with August about why she came and her past. Up until this stage in the novel, Lily
has been struggling with hating herself for what she felt she did to her mother. As a
result of having shot her mother, she feels she is not lovable and that everyone should
hate her. August is able to make her see that this is not the
case:

But
you're not unlovable. Even if you did accidentally kill her, you are still the most
dear, most lovable girl I know. Why, Rosaleen love you. May loved you. It doesn't take a
wizard to see Zach loves you. And every one of the Daughters loves
you.

Slowly, Lily begins to
feel and to accept this love that is felt towards her by so many people. In addition,
Lily also learns something very important about the human condition at the end of this
chapter, after she has learnt about her mother leaving her. August tells
her:

Every
person on the face of the earth makes mistakes, Lily. Every last one. We're all so
human. Your mother made a terrible mistake, but she tried to fix it... There is nothing
perfect... There is only
life.

Lily has to learn to
forgive both herself, but also her mother for deserting her. August helps her to realise
that all humans make mistakes, and we must forgive each other for the mistakes that we
do make.