Forgiveness! Sometimes that word burns in our stomachs when it is mentioned to us. Some well meaning soul will come to us with their wisdom and say, "You really need to forgive that person if you want to move on in your recovery.
"Forgive them?"
"They hurt me...they wounded me....I was counting on them and they let me down! Forgive them? Never."
I'm not real good at giving out religious platitudes or catchy sayings, but the truth really is that forgiveness is more about you and your welfare and spiritual health than it is about someone who has hurt you.
If you are not in the mind to forgive, then you are the one who is really suffering....not that person who wronged you. They probably don't even think about you or what they may have done to you. You're the one who can't get the hurt out of your life....it would be different if the hurt and pain you are experiencing moved you forward in your life and in your recovery, but it has become the stumbling block /obstacle that you can't get around.
One of the reasons I chose to answer Jesus' call to this new life he has given me, is that he lived out what he taught. He didn't come up with all these really neat sounding religious lessons. He demonstrated them before those who were following him. He made sure that nothing in his life ran contrary to what God had given him to share.
Think about it.
On the worst possible day a human could have....
Being rejected by everyone who claimed to know you, leaving you alone...
Arrested and charged with some bogus claims made by paid witnesses...
Sentenced to die the most humiliating death a human could experience. Jesus chose to demonstrate to those present the very heart of what he'd been teaching.
There hanging on a Roman cross that he'd been nailed to.....
The very first words that Jesus said from that cross was "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
With all that was happening to him....
With all the pain he was going through...
His mind and heart was on those who had brought about this deed.
"Father...forgive them"
I think more than what we read....Jesus was not only speaking about the people there at the cross of his death, but also every human being.
When he spoke those words he was looking down through the ages. He saw me....and he saw you. He knew that we were so in need of being forgiven.
You see, forgiveness isn't about a feeling. You don't do this because you feel like it. You do it...you forgive because you choose to. It isn't about feelings, it is about a choice. Funny part, as you walk out this commitment to forgiveness, your feeling will change.
You see, the Twelves Steps kind of works like this.
Step # 1-3 - making peace with God
Step # 4-11 - making peace with others
Step # 12 - Giving it away.
What is the result of all of this?
I am at peace with myself.
Now that is a gift money can't buy.
God on you...
mb
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