Forgiveness

Let’s begin by looking at what Webster’s tells us about the word “forgiveness”…

~forgive, the verb = “to give up resentment of”
~forgiving, the adjective = “willing or able to forgive”; “allowing room for error or weakness”

Now, let’s look at what the Bible tells us about the word “forgiveness”…

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” ~Matthew 26:28 NIV

“Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him.” ~ Luke 17:3-4 MSG

Now let’s look at some lyrics to a wonderful song:

“Forgiveness” by Matthew West

It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don’t deserve

It’s the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just too real
It takes everything you have just to say the word…

Forgiveness
Forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always anger’s own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what it’s power can do
So, let it go and be amazed
By what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

I want to finally set it free
So show me how to see what Your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

For the last few months I have been deeply hurt because of a misunderstanding, rather misperception with one of my dearest and closest friends. I am not one to be “sappy” ~ I do NOT like to cry or be emotional in front of people. I trace that back to when I was the fat kid on the playground being made fun of and learning to “stuff” and keep a stellar demeanor because I never wanted the other kids to know they were getting to me. If I didn’t let them know they were getting to me then it ended quickly. Unfortunately, though, what that taught me over the years was to turn that hurt into anger and bitterness. Fortunately though, with spiritual maturity, lots of prayer, and studying the Bible I have softened over the years and have become a more forgiving and graceful person – but I’m not perfect that it yet!

I often revert to my old ways when I am deeply hurt and become very angry, as not to show emotion – sometimes I go so far as to put up a wall of protection around me and become very sarcastic and down right “pig headed”! Thank God, though, that I have the good sense to pray about what hurts me now and that I have realized listening to God for direction is a much better way to go then hanging onto anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness.

It’s kind of comical, to me, that I had heard Matthew West’s song “Forgiveness” several times when it first came out earlier this year, but it seems that the last couple of months I’ve heard it, at least, once a day and sometimes multiple times a day! Gee, I wonder, do you think God was trying to tell me something?!

So, getting back to this “misperception” between me and my friend. I have been praying for her daily, specifically that God would soften my broken, yet hardened heart, to be able to give her the grace, understanding, and forgiveness that God gives me a million times a day. And, I’m so very happy to share with you that God answered this prayer in a way I never would have imagined – He gave me a soft heart, a very emotional heart ~ a heart of grace, a heart of forgiveness, a heart of thankgiving, and a heart of love. You see earlier this week my friend and I had the opportunity to come face to face and oh, the emotions that flowed from me ~ I was so surprised and so thankful! The long awaited embrace and cleansing tears flowed honestly and lovingly from both. Forgiveness… It’ll clear the bitterness away; it can even set a prisoner free; there is no end to what it’s power can do. So, let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace ~ the prisoner that it really frees is you. Forgiveness! 🙂