A while ago, at our
Time Out Tuesday Bible Studies, a dear friend opened her heart to us and shared her struggle to forgive her
father. As we are all still at the
beginnings of our friendship with her, we don’t know much more, but, Lord
willing, there may be more precious times of sharing in the future. She’s been on my heart and since I've started reading "A Grace Disguised" I could not stop thinking of her in relation to his chapter on forgiveness. Thinking isn't enough - praying for our brothers and sisters and ourselves to please God in forgiving others is a glad must!
Part 1
"Forgive and
Remember" (1) Something on unforgiveness.... Quoted from Jerry
Sittser."
Some people suffer
loss because other people commit acts of betrayal, unfaithfulness or brutality,
or blunder, or plots to do evil.
Most victims of
wrongdoing want justice to prevail after their loss and for a good reason. They
know intuitively that there is a moral order in the universe. The violation of
that moral order demands justice. Without it the moral order itself is undermined
and people are given license to do whatever they want.
People who have
suffered loss recoil at such an idea. Their undeserved, irreversable loss
reminds them every day that wrong was done and wrong must be made right, a
score evened and restitution offered.
Sometimes our
systems of justice fail. Sometimes we may fantasise about the suffering of the
one who did us harm.
Most unforgivers
soon realise that this preoccupation poisons them.
When the very
thought of forgiveness seem abhorent it is time to make sure there is not a
root of bitterness springing up.
To be continued.
I’ve also posted
these few notes to facebook and two friends made very valuable comments there:
K: What is your definition of forgiveness?
C: to let it go, to know that god will have
justice and its not up to us, to realise that we sin against him all the same?
K: thanks Charlene. How is the relationship with
you and the person you forgave would be if the person seems to keep abusing
you??
C: If they kept on
abusing you it would be hard, but just as Jesus said when peter asked him how
many times should i forgive my brother? 70 times 7 times we should forgive our
brother. It’s easier to say than to do though especially if they are not sorry
and keep doing it. but i guess we have to try and understand them and that they
are blind and cannot see. and keep showing them love. that will soften their
hearts x
Forgive and Remember Parts 1-2 can be found at this link.
Forgive and Remember Parts 1-2 can be found at this link.
