Why forgive?

"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name... Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.' For if your forgive [humans] when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive [them] their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive you."
~ Matthew 6:9, 12, 14-15

Have you ever been wounded by someone who you deeply care for? A friend? Family member?

When we feel rejected, abandoned, abused, manipulated, or violated, it is mostly by people very close to us: our parents, our friends, our spouses, our lovers, our children, our neighbors, our teachers, our pastors. Those who love us wound us too.

If we were to look at these events, for me, I would list these as tragic events.

This is what makes forgiveness from the heart so difficult.

It is precisely our hearts that are wounded. I can remember asking someone, "How can I forgive you for that?" when I was caught off-guard by a close friend who shared something she had done.

There are those moments when forgiveness seems impossible, but nothing is impossible for God.

The God who lives within us will give us the grace to go beyond our wounded selves and say, "In the Name of God you are forgiven."

Let's pray for that grace while seeking to remain in God's grip!

​G. Todd Williams (c) 2018