Everyone Needs Forgiveness
One of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard starts with “Everyone needs compassion, love that’s never failing,” and continues with “Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a Savior.” This song has truly touched me. So many times, we go through live with an unforgiving heavy heart.
Relationships in families, marriages, friendships and so much more can be ruined with lack of forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the key elements in life. Being that NOBODY is perfect, when you make a mistake, you expect to be forgiven, so why must you be unforgiving? After all, Jesus was crucified on a cross to forgive us of our sins so we can live eternally; so how can we not forgive others? Can we really say a person has caused us more pain than the pain Jesus went through for our sins?
Matthew 18:21-22 reads 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Jesus will forgive us as many times as it takes to get it right! As hurt as you may be, we must be forgiving, compassionate, loving, and accepting of the faults and flaws of the people we love. It is what strengthens us in Christ. Holding a grudge hurts you more than the person who has wronged you.
So many relationships suffer because both parties are unwilling to accept the fact that humans make mistakes. Instead of working through the rough times, they abandon the ship and dwell on the pain instead of aspiring to work together and progress.
In my line of work, there is something called regression testing. That is when you go back to check if the prior mistakes have been corrected. This should not apply to relationships. One of the worst things to do is bring up prior incidents and situations. That is not really forgiveness. That is just collecting leverage to use against a person when future mistakes are made.
Pure forgiveness is acknowledging that although something has occurred, it will NOT tear our relationship apart. We can talk through it, and work together to leave it behind us. Nothing is too big to accomplish through Christ.
I am not saying to allow yourself to be a doormat and have people walk all over you; you must carry your faith strongly. However, you must remember that we all fall, and just as Jesus was there to extend his hands to save the disciples on drowning, He will reach out His hands to pick us up when we fall down; you must be willing to do the same for the people you love.
If we walk with compassion, understanding, love, and forgiveness, none being greater than the other, then we can be that brightly shining light in the lives of others that allows them to know we are all human, and you will be there for them to love and forgive them just as our Savior is there to do the same for us.