HOW TO FORGIVE

One day a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods.
As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. 
 

He thought about those who had lied about him
back when he had a job.
 

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things
and cheated him. 
 

He remembered family that had passed on. 


His mind turned to the illness he had that
no one could cure.
 

His very soul was full of anger, resentment
and frustration. 
 

Standing there this day, he searched for answers he could not find,
knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree
to seek the one he knew would always be there, and with tears in his eyes,
he prayed.
 

“Lord” you have done wonderful things for me in my life.
You requested things of me and I happily obeyed.  
 

Today, you requested me to obey.  I am sad, Lord, because I cannot.
I don’t know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn’t deserve these wrongs
that were done against me and I shouldn’t have to forgive.
 

My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you,
but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing
I cannot do – “Teach Me To Forgive”
 

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of the old oak tree,
he felt something fall onto his shoulders.
 

He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.

He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.


He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes
as he saw Jesus hanged in the cross.
 

“Have you ever told a lie?”  He asked?
The man answered – “ yes Lord”


“Have you ever given too much change and kept it?”
The man answered – “yes Lord,” as he sobbed more and more.
 

“Have you ever taking something from work
that wasn’t yours?” Jesus asked?
And the man answered – “yes Lord.”
 

“Have you ever sworn, using my Father’s name in vain?”
The man, crying now, answered – “yes Lord.”
 

As Jesus asked many more times, “Have you ever?”
the man’s crying became uncontrollable for he could
only answer, “yes Lord.”


Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other,
and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder.
He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus.
 

When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus,
and there was a look of love the man had never
seen before or known before.
 

Jesus said “I didn’t deserve this either, but I
forgive you.”


It may be hard to see how you are going to forgive someone for the pain they have caused you, but when you look back in life, you realize how important it is to make a decision to forgive, even if you don’t feel like forgiving. Ask God for His help, He has forgiving much more.

When you forgive someone, you continue to hate their sin, but you are commanded to love them. To forgive, you don't have to condone their sin.

Whether that person responds to you in forgiveness or not, it's their problem and their sin. Walk away, keep your heart right, pray and ask God to bring reconciliation. Do what you can to bring it about, and if you can't have your peace, keep on moving.

As I was walking down life's highway many years ago I came upon a sign that read...

Heaven's Grocery Store

When I got a little closer the doors swung open wide and when I came to myself I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels they were standing every where.

One handed me a basket and said "My child shop with care."

Everything a human needed was in that grocery store.

And what you could not carry you could come back for more.

First I got some Patience.

Love was in that same row.

Further down was Understanding, you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom and Faith a bag or two.

And Charity of course I would need some of that too.

I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost It was all over the place.

And then some Strength and Courage to help me run this race.

My basket was getting full but I remembered I needed Grace,

And then I chose Salvation for Salvation was for free.

I tried to get enough of that too for you and me.

Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill,

For I thought I had everything to do the Master's will.

As I went up the aisle I saw Prayer and put that in,

For I knew when I stepped outside I would run into sin.

Peace and Joy were plentiful, the last things on the shelf.

Song and Praise were hanging near so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel

"Now how much do I owe?"

He smiled and said

"Just take them everywhere you go."

Again I asked "Really now,

How much do I owe?"

"My child" he said, "God paid your bill a long long time ago."