First Thoughts on Fighting Forgiveness
When we choose to publicly decimate another person’s
character with our insidious words and veiled threats we are revealing much
more about our hearts than the about the person for whom our words are
meant. When our words are designed
solely to wound and harm another, we can always be assured that they are not
only inappropriate but representative of the dark nature of our own
hearts.
Ugly and cruel
words spouted off at another in the heat of a hurtful and passion filled moment
show the impact and depth of the wound inflicted. When these same words are carefully thought
out and planned it shows simply that we have allowed our initial hurt to damage
us far more than it actually had the power to on its own. It is a direct reflection of us rather than
the person who was initially in the wrong.
Not only does
forgiveness free us from the weight of bitterness and pain, it is commanded by
our God. Choosing to continue to lash
out at those who have hurt us shows that we are unwilling to follow our God and
His desires. Furthermore, it
demonstrates that have forgotten the magnitude of the grace He extended to us
while we were yet entirely undeserving.
Never would I
attempt to proclaim that forgiveness is easy or that we allow abuse to continue
in any form. What is true however, is
that our refusal to do so hurts us, our relationships with other people in our
lives, and most importantly it hinders our relationship with our Father. Those reasons make not only forgiveness, but
moving past hurts, important enough that I want to work at it
intentionally. I want my words and
actions to suggest that I am making every effort to be the person I was called
to be rather than simply punishing those I feel are not making the same
effort.
