Friday, May 21, 2010

The Real 'F' Word: Forgiveness

I have an old pair of casual shoes that I like to wear around the house and sometimes on quick shopping excursions that have seen way better days, but they're so comfortable and fit so right that I'm going to wear them until the soles come off. A seasoned fashionista would have a mock coronary at the thought of such an effrontery to chic couture being seen out in public, but this gal has made up her mind that she just can't let go. 

So we are sometimes with people. When someone offends, betrays, or hurts us it's just human nature that under the right circumstances and timing that we just can't let go and forgive them. We repeat the offense in our minds over and over again, allowing the memory to corrode the soft places of our hearts until it festers like a running sore.  We continue to do this long after the offender even remembers the occurrence, much less gives us any depth of thought. 

Learn to let go.  Forgiveness isn't for the other person, it's for us. It cleanses like a soothing rain and clears the path for us to go forward in our life journey on to bigger and better things. God promises that He's a healer of the brokenhearted. Put your faith in Him and let Him have His way. There's just too much abundance and richness in the world to experience to allow someone who hasn't proven worthy of your trust to inhabit such a large foothold in your psyche. 

If you make up your mind today to forgive you'll begin to experience a wonderful new dimension of freedom that will open up a whole new level of peace and blessing in your life.

Are you harboring unforgiveness in your heart towards anyone right now? How has it affected you? When was the last time that you didn't consciously mull over the offense? We'd love to hear your thoughts.  Share them with us below.

2 comments:

  1. For about 15 years I've been harboring on a tribulation that happened to me (which I thought shattered all my dreams) and I kept those terrible feelings inside, not letting anyone in because I was afraid of what people would think. Now I am the "type A" person where everything around me is picture-perfect. The world thinks I don't have any problems because I smile all the time, but guess what... even "type A" people have problems.

    I held a grudge in my heart for about 15 years and then when I least expected it, the hurt feelings came out and almost caused me my marriage. The problem was I did not forgive when I thought I had. I used the words "I forgive you" but the hurt and pain still resonated and everytime I saw certain people...my insides would just cringe. It wasn't until about a few years ago that my spiritual leader informed me that I had not forgiven that situation. Well I was ready to prove to him that I had, but after he quietly said "If you had forgiven, you wouldn't be going through this right now (frustration and tears every time you bring it up). Immediately I asked God to help me in this tribulation because I wasn't living life to the fullest and I wanted that.

    Today God has healed my broken heart and those "soft places of the heart" have gotten stronger and thicker. FORGIVE...it's the answer to joy, peace and happiness in your life.

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing this. What a beautiful testimony. You're a true witness that forgiveness yields joy, peace, happiness, and freedom.

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