“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a
constant attitude.”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The ability to forgive or to hold
resentments—both of these come from the heart; one that is cleansed, the other
that is marked with carnality. It can be seen, therefore, that the ability to
forgive is something not that dependent on our effort. There is more dependence
on our will to surrender.
When we embrace the constant
attitude of love beyond selfishness, we agree that forgiveness and grace are
the portions with which we live our lives by.
“Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust
the one you forgive.”
—W. Paul Young, The
Shack
This is a very safe truth. When we
know that, via our forgiveness, there is no implication or responsibility to
trust, we can forgive without threat of contingency. This simplifies our
forgiveness. We can forgive wholeheartedly when we don’t have to trust. And
when we have forgiven, we open the way for the other to earn our trust back.
That’s the right order of things. Forgive first; resume relational transactions
later.
“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet
sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
—Mark Twain
Forgiveness gives no matter what.
Even as it is crushed under the heel it gives off a lovely aroma. Forgiveness
neither harms nor is harmed. She is an utterly safe companion. Having said
this, the compassion in forgiveness surprises almost everyone. The world could
do with so much more of this genteel but strong quality.
“Resentment is like drinking poison and then
hoping it will kill your enemies.”
—Nelson Mandela
Who in their right minds would
drink poison? We know the hazards associated. Yet we drink the poison of our
resentments, and we hardly even recognise the cost. How can an ingested poison
harm an entity that hasn’t ingested it? Yet, this is how we treat ourselves.
“To be a Christian means to forgive the
inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
—C.S. Lewis
Without a doubt, most of all, this
is the chief reason we must forgive. The character of our humanity is
transgression. We deceive, disparage, and defy the portents of love with
generous regularity. When we consider the range of the inexcusable that we are
responsible for, and we consider God’s forgiveness of all that, as well as all
that is to come, we stand astonished at this copious, amazing grace.
***
The faith involved in forgiveness
has us blessed by God’s wisdom. Every risk of sacrifice is confirmed as
courageous and right in the sight of God. Letting go of negativity and
resentments is the biggest task in experiencing the grace of God.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
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