Forgiveness: What it is and what it ‘isn’t'!

Hello everyone! I apologize for the length of time between posts. I am still trying to move from Fremont to Omaha, and also deal with all of the various financial matters concerning my husband’s estate. Let’s dive right in, shall we? On my last post, I gave you the dictionary definitions of  ’forgiveness’. The first definition states: ‘To grant someone pardon for a mistake or wrongdoing’. This simply means that you are not going to continue to hold that mistake or wrongdoing against that person. Many people get really angry here. The reason is, that some of the things someone has done to another person are really, really bad. Therefore, they struggle with forgiveness. First of all, I don’t think it is possible to truly forgive someone without the Lord’s help. Secondly, I want to state that forgiving that person of their misdeed or wrongdoing is not stating, “What they did to me doesn’t matter, it’s O.K., it’s forgotten”. What that person did to you is NOT O.K. It DOES matter, and what they did was WRONG. However, I am not going to let what they did to me define my life, character or personality. I am not going to let their wrongdoing continue to rule my life through bitterness and unforgiveness. What they did was wrong, but I am going to LET GO OF IT. In Matthew chapter 18:21, 22 Peter inquired of the Lord, “How many times shall someone sin against me, and I forgive them? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven”.  Wow. Really? If someone sins against me, I am to forgive them 490 times?! Jesus says, “Yes”. The whole basis for this is the fact that God has forgiven you. Something that helps me with that, is to remember that I am to forgive others, as God for Chris’s sake has forgiven me. I can do the same. I forgive others for Christ’s sake. Have you ever screwed up? Do you want forgiveness and mercy? I do. I want to deal with other’s sins the way my heavenly Father has dealt with mine. He grants me forgiveness and mercy. I will do the same for others. “Yes, that’s all well and good Denise, but what if they aren’t sorry? What if they keep on doing it, and it’s very destructive and harmful to me, or to those I love”! Your forgiveness is not based on whether or not they are sorry. It’s based on God’s forgiveness towards you, which you extend to others, sorry or not! Now, hear me out. I am in NO WAY advocating continuing a relationship that is destructive or harmful! I am not advocating that to truly forgive that person, you are obligated to trust them, or to continue to put yourself or your loved one in harm’s way. That would be just plain dumb! Forgive them, remove yourself from the situation, and PRAY for them. Amen! As you pray for the very person who hurt you, God will heal your own heart, but for heaven’s sake, use the good brain God gave you! Walk in wisdom. You are not obligated to associate with them. If you happen to see them in a social situation, or on the street, be kind, and move on. Continue to pray for them.  That’s all for today.  God bless all of you!    Love in Christ     Denise

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