~Find it hard to 'Forgive and Forget'? ~
"Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future."-- Lewis B. Smedes.
I have heard people say often "I can forgive, but I CANT ever forget." And of course, no we cant erase memories, and/or re-write history...we cant pretend it never happened, nor ignore the pain it caused. But once we change the definition of forgiveness to understand that it does not mean that what the person did was 'okay'..but that it is for ourselves to be able to; 1) Move forward into our Purpose, (1 Pet 1:2-3) 2) get forgiveness for our own sins in return (Matt 6:14) 3) set aside and 'forget' the need to get revenge or retaliate against the person, and allow God to handle them (Rom 12:19)... forgiveness will then be easier to give...and receive.
Why should we do this? Sometimes it feels better to be angry at the person! It gives us a sense of satisfaction, and entitlement to nuture hate for them in our heart. But reseach has shown that bitterness and malice eventaully can manifest themselves into cancers and stress-related illnesses. In other words, your bitterness staarts to eat at YOU from this inside out! I read a great book about forgiveness recently. It was called "Total Forgiveness" By R.T. Kendall, and it talks about what forgiveness IS, and what it isnt, but I learned that forgiveness is more for the giver than for the receiver, and will allow you to move forward into the future without allowing it to affect the NEXT generation!!
But the real question is: are you really ready to let go?!?
No comments:
Post a Comment