A little
boy, being asked what forgiveness is, gave the beautiful answer: "It is the odor that flowers breathe
when they are trampled upon." And always remember that this is what best
describes forgiveness. To many people, to forgive
is the hardest thing to do especially those that have been injured by another
person big time. However, it is also the best thing that anybody can do for
another to personally obtain genuine peace and joy in one’s life. On the other
hand, inability to forgive imprisons one soul in painful resentment and utter
despair. It is a decision that no one can make for another. A deliberate choice
must be made to do so. Most importantly, it is given not asked.
Recently, I came
across a BBC news article that discusses forgiveness: “So what does true forgiveness really mean? And how can it be achieved?
Throughout history, forgiveness has often been seen through the prism of
religion, rather than of science or psychology. On Good Friday, the Bible says
Jesus Christ said "forgive them Father for they know not what they
do" as he was on the cross.” Jesus walked what He taught even at the
cross. It wasn’t easy but He did it to the amazement of His enemies and to be
imitated by His disciples.
Jesus taught it plainly
to His disciples when Peter asked Him about it: “Then
Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven
times, but seventy times seven” (Matthew
18:21-22). Forgiveness is a Christian principle that MUST be applied by those that adhere to Jesus as their Master and
Lord. If Jesus exemplified it, then His disciples should be capable of doing it
as well.
The art of forgiving
is a spiritual grace every Christian should develop. Because this is so difficult
to put into practice, Roy Smith, an author of bible study materials offers the
following suggestions: 1) Begin by assuring yourself that compared to Christ's
suffering you haven't been seriously wronged at all.
2) Recall the many kind
deeds that have been shown to you, perhaps even by the person who has harmed
you.
3) List the benefits you have received from the Lord.
4) Thank Him for
blessing you with His love and forgiveness each day. 5) Make an honest effort
to pray for the one who has injured you.
6) Go even further by looking for an
opportunity to help him. 7) If the offense is especially hard to forget, try to
erase the memory by thinking gracious and generous thoughts.
8) Finally,
before you fall asleep at night, repeat slowly and thoughtfully that phrase
from the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors."
Here is a prayer that
we can apply daily to apply forgiveness as often as possible as Jesus’
disciple:
If
I have wounded any soul today,
If
I have caused one foot to go astray,
If
I have walked in my own willful way—
Good Lord, forgive!
If
I have uttered idle words or vain,
If
I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest
I myself should suffer through the strain—
Good Lord, forgive!
If
I have been perverse, or hard, or cold,
If
I have longed for shelter in thy fold,
When
Thou hast given me some fort to hold—
Good Lord, forgive!
Forgive
the sins I have confessed to Thee,
Forgive
the secret sins I do not see,
That
which I know not, Father, teach Thou me—
Help me to live.
Learning to
appreciate the power of forgiveness provides a secure life of peace and joy.
Having no heavy baggage to carry around, an individual will be free as a bird
to face anything it may encounter. It is a great advantage to ensure that forgiveness
is an attitude to adopt at all times however small the issue maybe. As the
popular saying goes, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” And it simply
means this: Forgiveness of those who have wronged us is very difficult but very
Christ-like. When those that professes to be Christians applies the power of
forgiveness at all times in any situation, many will see Jesus and become
attracted to Him.
Lets’ talk
again!
