Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Forgive and Forget



Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?  Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

In the recent passing of writer, speaker, and advocate for human rights, Maya Angelou, our nation mourns.  We have lost a voice which spoke with wisdom, compassion, and honesty.  A voice which dared to utter the words of Jesus and not, for one moment, apologize for her belief.  A writer who transcended race and cultural issues to speak to and inspire us all.

Facebook, on the day Ms. Angelou dies, is teeming with quotes, photos, and memories of this beloved woman.  It is through one of these that I find the picture used above.  It prompts me to write about a subject I haven't mentioned nearly enough here:  The grave importance of and the absolute necessity for forgiveness.

If you attend a traditional church service, chances are the Lord's Prayer is a staple in your worship experience.  "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."  How many of us recite those words, following familiar ritual, but never take them to heart?  My guess?  Too many of us!

What can we do to up the ante?  To learn to forgive as Jesus forgave us when we were yet sinners? (Romans 5:8)

From my own life experience, I share my take on the stages of forgiveness:


  • Forgive?  Heck, no!  You hurt me in a way I didn't deserve!  How dare you?  Suffer the same suffering you place on me!
  • Forget?  Oh, I'll never forget your stab in the back and your false accusations against me.  You hurt me beyond belief.  I truly want to hurt you back!
  • Forgive?  Maybe, I need to understand where you're coming from.  I need to understand why I'm reacting this way . . .
  • Forget?  No, I'll remember for a lifetime, but not with the same urgency and presence.  It will all become a memory.  Not a good one, but a memory nonetheless.
  • Forgive?  The Lord tells me I should forgive you.  It's so hard!  The pain lingers . . . I'm weary, frustrated, and confused . . .
  • Forget?  I wish I could take those memories and trash them, never to relive them again.  You hurt me.  You judged me unfairly.  I know this in my heart.  Do you know it in yours?
  • Forgive?  Jesus tells me to forgive others, including you, as He has forgiven me.  It's so difficult.  But, finally I pray that forgiveness of you will manifest in my heart.
  • Forget?  The memories are fading!  Thanks be to God!
  • Forgive?  As it offers healing to others, it offers, in its gracious turn, healing for me.
To live an unforgiving life is to live outside the presence of Christ Jesus.  He knows what we need to bring closure and peace to our troubled lives.  He lived as one of us to experience all the roller coaster rides we encounter in this unpredictable, in-need-of-forgiveness journey we share.

He longs for us to live in His Spirit.

He wants us to forgive and forget . . .

~

Are you somewhere caught up in the stages of forgiveness and forgetting?  May our Lord, Jesus, guide you every step of the way!

Prayer:  Father God, You sent in all generosity and humility Your only Son, Christ Jesus, to die upon a cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  Can we not find it in our hearts, souls, and minds to forgive others?  When we are feeling hurt, filled with pride and self-righteousness, quell our impulses to be hateful.  Substitute them with Your love.  Help us to know that only through forgiveness will we find Your perfect peace.  In Jesus' name, amen.



14 comments:

  1. Forgiveness is something I have been able to deal with Martha (luckily) but forgetting is something am not. And that is more hurtful!

    Lovely post as always

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Forgetting can be the toughest of the two. I endured an extremely hurtful situation in 2010. It literally took me three years to be able to let the memory go though I had forgiven my "Judases" long before that.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  2. True forgiveness, I think, is one of the most difficult tasks in being a Christ follower. I need to be reminded of this truth daily and realize that it is more about what He wants for our heart than those who have hurt us. Thanks for your thought provoking post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! Especially when it comes to forgiving our enemies, right? Wow! It's so great to know Christ still loves us even when we have difficulty forgiving, forgetting, and moving on in Him.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  3. Martha, like so many others, I struggle with forgiveness--true forgiveness. I keep reminding myself that forgiveness is simply that--I do not have to have a relationship with the one I have forgiven. It is a process. Some days I have to ask Jesus to forgive that person through me, because on my own I cannot.

    Love and blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Asking Jesus for help in forgiving is the right thing to do, for in our weakness, He makes us strong. I share in that struggle with you, my friend, and it is, indeed, a process.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  4. Forgiving is hard, forgetting is harder. For me....walking away and giving up on the person seems to give me some peace. Out of sight and out of mind. I may have allowed forgiveness in my heart but I can never allow myself to completely forget and continue in a relationship with that person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I said to Privy above, I think the forgetting is the harder of the two when it comes right down to it. We can forgive and walk away, but the lingering hurts and sad memories can linger far longer than we wish they would. I suppose that's just a part of being human.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  5. Great post Martha. If we could only learn that forgiveness frees us. God Bless

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, Mike! I does free us, indeed!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  6. It takes time and mindful practice to do both...am able to in some cases. It is a process. Hope I can do both in some time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a process, Janaki, and one which is rarely realized overnight. Give yourself time, space, and lots of love!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  7. Great stuff, Martha. We always need reminders about the value and depth of forgiveness. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Frank! We do so often need those reminders and put our forgiving into practice.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete

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