MFT84

I’ve been thinking about doing a page on forgiveness for several days now but just haven’t gotten around to it. Forgiveness is a mighty important element in every person’s life. I have often heard people say “I can forgive, but I’ll never forget!” And that my dear friends is not real forgiveness. Jesus made it quite clear that for his followers it is imperative to forgive our neighbors as we expect God to forgive us. That puts the matter of forgiveness right out in the open so everyone can understand it’s meaning doesn’t it? Many people think that forgiveness means turning the other cheek, or letting the person get off scot-free. But that is not what forgiveness means at all. Forgiveness means letting go of the indignation and resentment that one person holds toward another. This is not only good theology, it is also good psychology. Not allowing hatred and malice to rule one’s life.

Forgiving another is beneficial to your overall well-being. Holding a grudge is not good for one’s blood pressure. Continued anger is very bad for anyone. Yet I have known many people who simply cannot let go of their bitter feelings toward some of their fellowmen. And it not only hampers the effectiveness of the one who continues in that frame of mind. It also puts a damper on the community of which the person belongs to, whether it be a fellowship within a community, a church or a household.

Just think of the following scenario for a minute. Little Joey wakes up one morning and discovers his new puppy has chewed up his favorite toy. The little guy throws a temper tantrum. As a result his Mother’s nerves tighten up and she snaps at her husband as he leaves for the office.

Still feeling the unhappy sendoff he greets his secretary with some cold and unreasonable directions. She picks up the same mood and at the office coffee-break tells off one of her good friends. By days end her friend is all out of sorts and tells her boss she’s ready to quit.

The same pattern continues as an hour and a-half later, after especially heavy traffic the boss walks into his house and blurts out an angry word to his son about leaving his bicycle in the driveway. The son runs to his room and slams the door and kicks his little doggie, who couldn’t quite figure out what he had done.

Get the picture? Where does it all end? Each person in the illustration probably thought he or she had good reason to be upset. But all that was needed was one of them to absorb his/her unjust treatment without lashing out and the cycle would have been broken.

Ever since the 9/11 debacle in our country there has been so much vengeance and the desire to get revenge on the hearts of the American populace, and even encouraged by our President. If instead of our desire to get revenge we had shown an attitude of reconciliation we might have saved countless lives and billions of dollars and successfully made friends instead of more enemies.

If you are wronged, don’t do what comes naturally; do what comes supernaturally!