There it was. This GREAT BIG opportunity, a choice, to give grace or condemnation after a HUGE disappointment. Not to mention, it was on the heals of a month filled with opportunities to express deep-heart forgiveness for others in our circle in moments when demands and expectations could have legitimately been made. The crooked form sitting before me, afraid to dare eye-to-eye, expecting what was always expected and received from others in the form of ridicule and berating... my heart broke and gushed and the cross never felt so close as it did at that moment.
Forgiveness.
What I thought would be difficult to give, simply flowed out. How could I not give it and spread it abundantly. No wrong was so wrong that I couldn't.
Forgiveness.
The hardest simplest thing to do in our lives is to forgive, especially issued to the worst in a situation. Forgiveness in the unforgivable is among the biggest most powerful concepts, right up there with love and grace.
This scene is etched in my memory along with the season of roller-coaster heartache and unbelievable travesty which accompanied it. Yet, to this day, what stands out the most is how God showed me the tie between gratitude and forgiveness through our trials. Like the blinding brightness of light when one has sat in dark, is the depth of gratitude once forgiveness has been gifted and graced.
God through Paul commands:
Jesus himself provides a staunch warning which should make even the most devout, shutter and take stock:
How do we do this thing called forgiveness? Don't we have every right to feel hurt, to recoil from betrayal, to want to hold on and expect reconciliation or recompense?
Sure, but, didn't Jesus also? He was lied to and about, he was betrayed, he was mistreated and deceived, he was beaten and tortured for crimes he did not commit and, ultimately, he died a gruesome and tortuous death he did not deserve. His only response?
Forgiveness.
So, what exactly has any one person done to me that I just can't forgive? Um...... yeah, I can't think of a thing which deserves my time, energy, or heart to harbor. Suddenly, forgiveness and grace become much easier.
I love how God puts it through Paul:
After forgiveness we get dressed! We put on love and we let peace of Christ RULE and then? Be thankful.
We may not be thankful that we were hurt or betrayed or let down or... pick your verb. However, we can have gratitude in lessons learned, gratitude things weren't worse (they can always be worse), gratitude Christ teaches us grace and forgiveness, gratitude that we are just sojourners and this is not our home, gratitude that suffering and hurt will not last forever. If you have put on love and LET the peace of Christ rule in your heart, you will find gratitude for something!
I pray, no matter what you are walking out today or may be walking out ahead, you will find deep-heart forgiveness for any and all actions which may have taken stabs at your heart and that in the practice of forgiveness, you find deep gratitude you can live in and walk out.
Blessings,
By the way... are you ready for Thanksgiving? We have added a "Resource" page here on the site and you can find great downloadables like this one to help you plan and prepare (it is never too late to be ready for a big holiday dinner!)
