Day 18: What is the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
Hmmmm....I'm generally a forgiving person. I've been hurt and had things to forgive, but no one thing that stands out in my mind. Christ has forgiven me so much and continues to forgive me, so I can do no less for others.
I was just reading in the editor's note of the March issue of Real Simple magazine something that struck a chord with me: "Nothing truly terrible has happened to me at the hand of another human being. I have had heartache, but my heart has never been completely broken. I have experienced grief, but grief that was expected and made sense. I have been rejected and disappointed but emerged on the other side with a broader perspective and a tougher skin....I've never had to work to forgive; my hurts have been small enough that time has done the work for me." I feel much the same way. There has never been anything so awful that I have been unable to forgive. I don't know if the editor is Christian or not, but for me, I've forgiven nothing that hasn't paled in comparison to all I've been forgiven by Christ. And I don't have to hang on a cross, innocent. So in light of that, I can forgive, through His example, and yes, sometimes, the passage of time. There are a few people to whom I have granted forgiveness, but have had to part ways for sake of their toxicity being unhealthy to my soul. I harbor no ill will for them. That chapter has simply ended. Which leaves me feeling blessed that it never has to be that way with God.
ReplyDeleteSaid much more eloquently than me. Thank you.
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