I went to church today and the sermon was about forgiveness. Forgiveness, forgive, forgiven... as the different forms of the word orbited my mental, I begin to think about the emotions driven by forgiveness or lack thereof. The anger, the bitterness, the hatred, the hostility, all caused by the hurt, the harm, the abuse, the pain.
Sometimes it's hard to forgive, especially when your heart has been trampled over time after time, over and over again. Even if it has been trampled over only once, the resulting pain can be so laborious that your outlook on life can be completely altered. Deep hurt does not easily lend itself to forgiveness.
I once knew a young, naive girl who learned to love without fully understanding its meaning. It took her a long while, but she eventually entrusted someone with her most prized possession... her heart. She thought she had something special, but was too inexperienced to see that she didn't. Her faithfulness was taken for granted. The commonly accepted connection she shared with that someone became something she refused to continue. As a result, the connection later become a distance memory. She packed up her "things", put them in her suitcase and bounced up outta there!
No soon later, another opportunity to connect presented itself to her. This time would be different. This new someone begged and pleaded for her heart, yet she was unable to give it. So instead, she presented herself as a "strong, independent" woman. She appreciated the connection they had, but was too apprehensive to go too far. One thing lead to another, she ended up packing her "things", putting them in her suitcase and bouncing up outta there!
She couldn't take this any longer, but she was willing to cling TIGHT to the pieces of her broken heart. Until one day, a gentle Spirit spoke to her telling her to let it go. "Give your heart to me. I know what to do with it. Trust me," he said. Shaking her head in disbelief, she said, "Nah...man. I don't trust you". For years, He continued to speak those gentle words to her in His still small voice until she finally gave in.
The healing process slowly began. The anger, the bitterness, and the hatred was soon replaced with forgiveness and love. Everyday, she is re-energized because of the love she now receives. She finally put her heart in the right set of hands, leaving her suitcase at the foot of the cross.
It takes a lot of energy to hate someone. While you're spending all that energy hating that person, he or she is continuing to enjoying their life. It's like this, think of how many times we have lied to God and treated Him undeservingly. Yet, in spite of all the negative, evil, unGodly things we have done, He forgives us. So, let it go. Leave that baggage behind and give your heart to the Father.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
