Forgiveness is one of the greatest manifestations of love. Do this and you will live happily ever after. A grudge is an unnecessary burden to walk around with.
Yes, forgiveness is the bedrock of everyday christian living
But what is forgiveness really, I mean true forgiveness?
Here\’s Mariana\’s story.
Mariana grew up in a very abusive home. Her family was dysfunctional. She was verbally and physically abused in her growing up. Sometimes the physical abuse left marks on her body, but the greatest marks were the ones she carried emotionally and the anger that
was brewing inside of her.
Unfortunately this abuse continued into her high school days. Some days when the abuse was unbearable Mariana contemplated running away from home. But for some unknown
reason she could not. It\’s like she was on a leash and could not break loose.
She was thinking all the time why she was so hated to suffer so much abuse. Where was God?
Being the only child to her parents she did not understand why they were so abusive to her. As if this was not enough, even some of the visiting family relations abused her.
Even though this Mariana story is a fictitious one, I can imagine that there are many people in the real world who identify with it. Some have grown up with so much anger and frustration that they have completely cut off relationships with the abusers. In fact some may not even consider forgiveness as an option.
Is there true love and forgiveness in this world?
Yes. I know we are in a real world. A world in which so many unreal things happen everyday. But can there be forgiveness in this so called real world? I mean true forgiveness in love? Really?
I believe we can get back to a real life of forgiving one another, truly. Jesus shows us the way to do it. We can live in families, societies, communities and nations at peace with one another because we have the capacity to truly forgive one another.
Forgiveness is the best revenge you have over your perceived enemy. With it you regain control over your life. Your peace is restored and you are totally freed from the shackle of constantly focusing your energy on things that drain your productive potential.
Do you find yourself in a difficult situation needing you to forgive? I urge you to seriously consider the freedom that comes with forgiveness.
Here are some points to consider when you choose to revenge using the weapon of forgiveness :
\” The first true mark of love is the ability to forgive.
\” When you forgive, you are investing into your future. Sow a seed of forgiveness now and you will reap a harvest of peace and joy in the days to come.
\” You are hurting and the only true healing balm will come from within you. The healing power of forgiveness restores to you the power to enjoy life again, unhindered.
\” Look at the potential ahead of you; the potential for peace and freedom in your life without that anger, that frustration. You once again can soar high into your greatness. No fetters
from your past to interfere with your future glory.
\” Imagine that you can freely bring that hearty laughter and smile back on your face and into your life again.
\” You will have your energies to live a life of your dreams and once again cultivate great relationships around you.
\” …and the biggest gain? No more pain. No more anger. No more emotional jail. You are free, free, FREE INDEED!
Do I need to go on, not really, but only to get back to Mariana\’s story. She chose to leave town when it was time to go to College. She thought by leaving town she was leaving behind the abuse, the pain and the anger.
But her pain and anger only became more visible every time she thought about home. She could not bear the thought of going home in between semesters. She chose to stay with
friends.
Mariana goes to church, reluctantly
One day, a friend invited Mariana to church. She listened to the preaching that Sunday. It was about forgiveness. It\’s as if someone had secretly told the Preacher about Mariana\’s life story. She heard about God\’s love and forgiveness for her and the world through his son
Jesus.
When she was younger, Mariana had gone to Sunday school with the neighbor\’s children. So she knew about the story of the good news of Jesus coming to save the world. But this Sunday the Preacher told the story differently.
It\’s as if he was speaking directly to her and in her life\’s situation. He said, \”God loves you\”. \”I am loved? Really. Is this some kind of a joke?\”, she said to herself.
That Sunday night, she could not sleep. Tossing and turning in bed, she kept on thinking about God\’s love and forgiveness. As the dawn approached and as the saying goes, \”every dark cloud has a silver lining\” she slumped to the foot of the bed and for the first
time in her life she cried uncontrollably in her room. She cried from the depth of her heart.
For the first time she saw her life from a totally new angle. She realized that she was not the only one in bondage needing freedom, but her abusers needed to be set free too. She decided to forgive herself. She turned to God to ask for his love and forgiveness. She set her mind on
setting her abusers free. She chose to avenge herself with the weapon of forgiveness.
That Monday morning as the sun came up, she picked up her phone and called home. Guess who first answered the phone? Her chief abuser, her father. She spoke into that phone with radiance from her heart and a brilliant smile of joy on her face,
\”Papa, it\’s me, Mariana. I miss you both. I am coming home this weekend, I love you. Hello Papa, can you hear me?\”.
The father could not believe what he heard as he was too shocked to respond, he just dropped the phone! He asked himself, \”could this be true? Am I dreaming?\”
Still in shock he slowly walked back to the bedroom. His wife, Mariana\’s mother, saw the
look on his face and immediately sat up, \”What\’s the matter, bad news\”?
\”That was Mariana on the phone. She called to tell us she is coming home for the weekend.
She sounded excited. Something\’s not right\”. So his wife asked,\”coming home this weekend\”? \”Yes\”, he replied and she said she misses us both!
Can you guess what happened that weekend? A renewed Mariana went home. She forgave her parents. She spoke to them both about the love of Jesus Christ. The family reconciled and they had a new start.
Now what about you? what is your situation? Is it like Mariana\’s?
Well, whatever your circumstance, you too can turn around your situation and live a fulfilled life. It\’s never too late to enjoy peace in abundance. God loves you too.
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In the meantime take care. Stay Blessed and Inspired. Always!
