Forgive and forget

Last night my husband spoke to our youth group about forgiveness. DEEP I know. Forgiveness can be one of two things.

1) It can be extremely hard for someone to do.
2) It can be extremely easy for someone to do.

Often times this is based on how and who you were wronged by. In my life I have experienced people who need forgiveness. In fact, being a nurse half the time I go into work I encounter someone who is in need of forgiveness for how they treat me or someone around me. But forgiveness is a choice we have to make.

My husband told a story of how when he was little he had this little plastic jungle book cup he got in his happy meal and McDonald's. He drank out of this cup all the time and loved it dearly. Well one day his mom decided to put this cup in the dishwasher to clean it...well you can imagine what happened. The little guy melted and was deformed for life. He said that his mom felt horrible and she asked him to forgive her over and over. Of course my sweet, kind hearted husband told her it was ok. He said that was easy...it is easy to forgive the little things...

BUT, what if it is bigger what if someone has physically abused you, used you, and mistreated you? What if in high school someone had cheated on you? Well that is a different story you say...NO! What does the bible have to say about forgiveness? Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Powerful, Right? Often times we don't think about how God himself forgives us on a daily basis. How we are in constant need of His saving grace. If He can forgive the sins of the whole world who are we to hold a grudge against someone?

BUT this person hurt me. SIN HURTS GOD. Sin separates us from God and yet He forgives it anyway. If we do not forgive, it leads to malice. Malice is like a tree...If you water it and feed it then then it takes roots and grows into a tree which blocks the view. It blocks perspective. It blocks forgiveness...The longer you hold on to the hurt that someone gave you, the longer it is going to be before you can move on. The longer it is going to be before you are at peace.

CUT THE TREE DOWN!! Let your road to forgiveness begin now! It will be hard, but it will be rewarding! AND ultimately it will bring you closer to God.