Weekend Verse
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.
~Proverbs 3:18 NLTThoughts on the weekend verse...
This weekend I read an interesting thought by Marilyn Meberg from her book, "I'd Rather Be Laughing". She was talking about forgiveness and how it is a tough topic, especially because we have some misconceptions about it.
The first misconception she brought up was that if you forgive someone, you have to "get back together" with that person. Not true says Meberg, we need to mentally separate the act of forgiveness and the act of reuniting. They are not the same nor are they synonymous. We can forgive someone and still plan never to see that person again. Forgiving the offender does not change the offender... it changes you.
The second misconception is that if we forgive someones offense, it excuses that person's behavior. Meberg stated that forgiving does not excuse or condone... it simply forgives.
The third misconception is that forgiving means forgetting the pain that individual inflicted on you. The concept of "forgive and forget" is something only God can do. We can't come anywhere near forgetting, wrote Meberg.
Some of us have been deeply hurt by others persons actions and we harbor anger, resentment and sometimes even blame God for allowing the action to have happened. Perhaps it was an accident that claimed the life of our child, maybe it was sexual abuse that occurred when we were young. Perhaps our parents abused us rather than using loving discipline, or perhaps they favored one child over you and you felt that sting all your life. Remember the above wisdom offered from Meberg and forgive. It's for you and your health and well-being.
This verse in Proverbs clearly states that "wisdom is a tree of life". And that's what forgiveness does for us - it gives us life and healing by forgiving those who have wounded us.
Weekend prayer...
Lord, Lord - hear my prayer! Work in my heart and in my life so that I may forgive those who have "trespassed against me!" May I recall all the forgiveness You have poured out to me and extend it to those whom I believe are above forgiveness. May I realize that forgiveness is for me as it is allows me to show Your mercy and grace and it floods my soul with healing and life. In Jesus' name I pray ~Amen!
Yours, because we're His,
Tamara
Tamara....I have never thought of forgiveness from that perspective....enlightening...and something for me to ponder. Thank you for your weekend prayer....
ReplyDeleteLove,
Jackie
Just love this, Tamara and it's all so true. We put so many impossible conditions on forgiveness. When Jesus said Father forgive them, that was not saying that those who crucified him did no wrong or that his agony in anticipation was something forgetable on earth or even that He would be able to reconcile with His offenders on earth...those three conditions are only possible for God and in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteThese three earthly perspectives free us to do SO much forgiving which will serve to heal us and there are instances in my life where I need to go back and forgive and maybe even re-forgive till the healing is complete.
Sorry I have not been commenting the last couple of days...not enough time.
blessings and hugs,
marcy
Forgivenees is a gift we give ourselves, one can forgive alone but it takes two to make a relationship. I have forgiven everyone but there are some who I choose not to have a relationship with, God lived and died for them as well as me...........:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteThat's a lesson I learned long ago, forgiving someone does not depend on them at all, they don't need to accept it, you don't need to carry on a relationship with them, they don't even have to know that you forgave them, it's more just a freeing of your own soul to forgive.
ReplyDeleteAnd, happily, I have been on the receiving end of forgiveness from my fellow man/woman many, many times and it is the Gift I hold dearest in my life.
Nice post, Tamara.
Nice prayer.
All the best,
Eileen
Tamara!! A new profile photo! Lovely...
ReplyDeleteMany hugs and much love to you...
Jackie