Last week I wrote about seeking forgiveness.  The flip side of seeking forgiveness is to forgive.  But, what can I say that you don’t already know?  Surely, you’ve heard the Good News that God forgives you!  And since you are freely forgiven, you are free to freely forgive. You also know that holding onto anger isn’t good for you and dwelling on the past only gives it power.  But forgiving isn’t always easy.  By definition, if you need to forgive someone they don’t deserve it because it means they did something wrong that hurt you.  We excuse accidents, but forgive wrongdoings.  No, forgiveness isn’t fair.  It’s not fair that you were hurt, it’s not fair to be asked to forgive, and it’s not fair to forgive. I think we must acknowledge this.  Christianity, life, love, forgiveness, grace and God are not fair, yet this is the life we are called to and given.  I thank God for unfair grace!  

So maybe what I write today is nothing new for you, but maybe you need to hear it again anyway. Every one of us needs to forgive because every one of us lives in a fallen world where people do wrong and hurt each other.  

God has given us free choice and sometimes we get caught in the middle– hurt by someone else’s bad choices.  If you’re like me, you may be angry with God for not protecting you from harm, and you may first need to forgive God.  Acknowledge when you’re angry with God; forgive God for the ways you perceive God has hurt you or allowed you to be hurt.  When I do this, I often recognize it was not God, but me, who needed forgiveness; do it anyway. 

If you’re a visual person, you may benefit from an exercise I found particularly helpful.  Think back to a particular time when you were hurt- one that you have difficulty letting go of.  Visualize the scene.  Where were you?  Who was with you?  What happened?  Now, visualize Jesus there.  Where is Jesus in that scene?  What is he doing?  This is a powerful exercise. 

Choose to forgive.  Forgiving someone is a choice.  Not forgiving is also a choice.  But choosing not to forgive someone means you are choosing to hold onto painful memories and to live in the past.  Wasn’t being hurt in the past bad enough?  Do you really want to relive it over and over again?  Choosing to forgive means letting go of the past and  choosing to live in the present.  It means choosing to live in peace.  Choosing light and love and peace and kindness… the fruits of the Spirit.  Let these fill you and flow outward toward others.  

Read Matthew 6:9-13 and Matthew 18:21-22, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Annie

Today’s Readings:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:9-13

and

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:21-22