Forgiveness
by Chuck Smoot
Jesus said to turn the other cheek
He also said to forgive 7 times 70
Easy for Him to say
He was God
Or at least the son of God
How do I get to the place
Where I forgive those
Who disrespect me and malign me
Those who could care less about my feelings
Yet I still care about theirs
Why is forgiveness so hard
Why does it take so much out of you
Why is it easier to hold on to a grudge
Rather than to let it go
Am I doing something wrong
If it is true that we are to love others
As we love ourselves
And we stay mad at ourselves
For our misdeeds and misdoing
Is it realistic to easily forgive someone
If you extend the olive branch
Of friendship and kindness and forgiveness
And it is not returned
Should you really keep trying
Even if you feel it is a lost cause
Or will persistence win the day
With the honesty and sincerity of words
Be recognized and acknowledged
Followed by a reasonable attempt
To let bygones be bygones
Is this one of the famous battles
Between head and heart
With both having opposing views
But the same hold on your psyche
Neither winning, neither losing
Sometimes I wonder
If our lack of ability to forgive
Is truly more rooted in our
Bruised ego and hurt feelings
Perhaps the pain we feel is comforting
If I were to release my anger and my pain
Only to be knocked again
Who becomes the bigger fool
Me for trying
Or them for doing
I wish that such matters were as easy
As a game of tic-tac-toe
Or perhaps it is
Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose
Neither happens if you don't take a chance
So I resolve to forgive
To be the bigger and better person
Give of myself as I would want others
To give to me
And perhaps this time everyone will win.
Forgiveness has been one of my greatest obstacles in my life. As I grow in faith, I am reminded that this MUST be done, so I can move forward and be free from past hurts..It's MY CHOICE to hold on to such things that seperate me from the true FREEDOM I can experience through Jesus Christ.
Momof6
Matthew 18:21-22
"O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you;my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is BETTER than life,my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands." Psalms 63
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Guest
Momof6
Have you ever heard the old saying "I'm going to let you off the hook"? Which I believe means let the trespass go and not hold it against someone? Well anyway years ago at a ladies retreat the main speaker encouraged us ladies to "Let the offenders off the hook..and put them on God's Hook". Let him deal with the anger or hurt or betrayal and the need for maybe even wanting to retaliate or be vengful. Any consequences will be dealt with by Him much more complete than anything we could do. And we'd find freedom and healing in that "letting go" That helped me so very much.
I also once heard on TV to imagine your hurts and grudges and things that torment you as each having its own suitcase.Now imagine trying to carry around those suitcases with you each and everyday 24 hours a day. It's not possible and very uncomfortable..whew, so I was challenged to when I am getting like that to again. Let them go. That helped me so much as well. I think there's been times I have grabbed them back but then had to return them. It's just too much work to be burdened with.Thanks for your posting and sharing.
Take care
Jilly~
Jill~
Have you ever heard the old saying "I'm going to let you off the hook"? Which I believe means let the trespass go and not hold it against someone? Well anyway years ago at a ladies retreat the main speaker encouraged us ladies to "Let the offenders off the hook..and put them on God's Hook". Let him deal with the anger or hurt or betrayal and the need for maybe even wanting to retaliate or be vengful. Any consequences will be dealt with by Him much more complete than anything we could do. And we'd find freedom and healing in that "letting go" That helped me so very much.
I also once heard on TV to imagine your hurts and grudges and things that torment you as each having its own suitcase.Now imagine trying to carry around those suitcases with you each and everyday 24 hours a day. It's not possible and very uncomfortable..whew, so I was challenged to when I am getting like that to again. Let them go. That helped me so much as well. I think there's been times I have grabbed them back but then had to return them. It's just too much work to be burdened with.Thanks for your posting and sharing.
Take care
Jilly~
Jill~
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Guest
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Guest
Thanks ladies 
Just recently i've had the opportunity to speak to friend about some past hurts and resentments..after 20 plus years... and it made realize how long i've CHOSEN to hold on to these things, when all along I could have just "let them off the hook" and in turn I could have CHOSEN peace for myself, and them as well..
Thanks Jill for that "letting them off the hook' idea, too..Shif, "I don't own this" is another good one
As it is said, "Depression is anger turned inward"..perhaps 'forgiveness" is the " cure all" for living in harmony and peace..even if we disagree..
Blessings~
"Mom"
Just recently i've had the opportunity to speak to friend about some past hurts and resentments..after 20 plus years... and it made realize how long i've CHOSEN to hold on to these things, when all along I could have just "let them off the hook" and in turn I could have CHOSEN peace for myself, and them as well..Thanks Jill for that "letting them off the hook' idea, too..Shif, "I don't own this" is another good one
As it is said, "Depression is anger turned inward"..perhaps 'forgiveness" is the " cure all" for living in harmony and peace..even if we disagree..
Blessings~
"Mom"
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Guest
Wow...I enjoyed reading all of this about forgiveness this afternoon!!!
Here is how I have always dealt with forgiveness!!! I think of it like this...
No-one is perfect in this life!!! We all make mistakes, right???
Most of the times we do not set out intentionally to hurt anyone, it just happens from time to time!!!
I do know that a lot of times other people just don't get it!!! They are not going through these things, so, they become very angry and frustrated with others and this is just their "poor" way of coping with what they consider "weaknesses" in others!!!
I use this Bible Scripture...Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I shall repay!!!
I find that this Scripture helps me to forgive others and actually pray for them!!!
I truly believe that each of us has the ability to forgive others their trespasses, as Jesus forgives us our trespasses!!!
I, also, believe that we must make a conscious decision to let go of this "excess" garbage that we are holding onto!!!
This baggage sure does nothing but hurt us, as well as, others in the long run!!!
We can never truly be at peace, unless we practice forgiving others!!!
I love this conversation, so, thank each of you for your input on it!!!
Have a great day!!! God Bless!!!
Here is how I have always dealt with forgiveness!!! I think of it like this...
No-one is perfect in this life!!! We all make mistakes, right???
Most of the times we do not set out intentionally to hurt anyone, it just happens from time to time!!!
I do know that a lot of times other people just don't get it!!! They are not going through these things, so, they become very angry and frustrated with others and this is just their "poor" way of coping with what they consider "weaknesses" in others!!!
I use this Bible Scripture...Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I shall repay!!!
I find that this Scripture helps me to forgive others and actually pray for them!!!
I truly believe that each of us has the ability to forgive others their trespasses, as Jesus forgives us our trespasses!!!
I, also, believe that we must make a conscious decision to let go of this "excess" garbage that we are holding onto!!!
This baggage sure does nothing but hurt us, as well as, others in the long run!!!
We can never truly be at peace, unless we practice forgiving others!!!
I love this conversation, so, thank each of you for your input on it!!!
Have a great day!!! God Bless!!!
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Guest
Ms T, thanks for your insight on this subject. That is sooo true that sometimes I don't intentionally set out to hurt anyone, but it happens from time to time. I am so thankful to have a God that is faithful in forgiving us of our shortcomings and to FORGET them..forever..WOW, what LOVE he has for us
Again I thank you all for your imput, it was greatly appreciated.
blessings~
Again I thank you all for your imput, it was greatly appreciated.
blessings~
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Guest
Hello Everyone:
What a very good subject. I'm glad I found this.
I have read the most wonderful book on forgiveness. The name of the book is: THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS By Dr. Charles Stanley. A christian man seen regularly on TV.
I was drawn to this book by its title. (i.e. The Gift......
And I do agree with Dr Stanley that there are times when we simply cannot forgive on our own.
For instance, take a person who suffered regular abuse over years as a child , sexual abuse or otherwise. It might be almost impossible to forgive.
But we can pray and God will definitely respond and help us in this area. In some cases we do need to rely on God's gift of forgiveness.
Another thing that we have to be careful about
in this life - something that we might consider trivial. of no really great grief to anyone -
might really wound another. The hurt might be a deep wound to them. So we should be careful when we approach others about forgiveness.
It is very impoortant to forgive others. Very.
As Christ requres that in order to completely forgive us.
But while we may completely forgive those who trespass, it isn't alwaya wise to go back for more of the same. I learned that in counseling.
For instance if a wife has been hurt by an abusing husband, it would be wrong to urge her to return for more of the same treatment. She can forgive , but she can depart from the scene of the injury.
This holds true no matter where we are. Always forgive. But nowhere are we required to remain in a setting that is painful for us.
That was such an interesting book. And has invaluable information in it.
I bought that book for all my children.
And I believe that our christian faith will back this up.
A very intereesting subject.
My best to everyone.
MJ
What a very good subject. I'm glad I found this.
I have read the most wonderful book on forgiveness. The name of the book is: THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS By Dr. Charles Stanley. A christian man seen regularly on TV.
I was drawn to this book by its title. (i.e. The Gift......
And I do agree with Dr Stanley that there are times when we simply cannot forgive on our own.
For instance, take a person who suffered regular abuse over years as a child , sexual abuse or otherwise. It might be almost impossible to forgive.
But we can pray and God will definitely respond and help us in this area. In some cases we do need to rely on God's gift of forgiveness.
Another thing that we have to be careful about
in this life - something that we might consider trivial. of no really great grief to anyone -
might really wound another. The hurt might be a deep wound to them. So we should be careful when we approach others about forgiveness.
It is very impoortant to forgive others. Very.
As Christ requres that in order to completely forgive us.
But while we may completely forgive those who trespass, it isn't alwaya wise to go back for more of the same. I learned that in counseling.
For instance if a wife has been hurt by an abusing husband, it would be wrong to urge her to return for more of the same treatment. She can forgive , but she can depart from the scene of the injury.
This holds true no matter where we are. Always forgive. But nowhere are we required to remain in a setting that is painful for us.
That was such an interesting book. And has invaluable information in it.
I bought that book for all my children.
And I believe that our christian faith will back this up.
A very intereesting subject.
My best to everyone.
MJ
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Guest
Hello all! You are such a belssing! I leaned one day when i was saying the Lord's Prayer. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us. You see our forgiveness is contingent upon US forgiving others. If we dont' we can't be forgiven. A light bulb went on in my head. This was the only way I could forgive a hurt no mother ever wants to experience. But now I am free.
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Guest
MM, oh thankyou for your post!!! YOU are an example of TRUE forgiveness! You're right, we MUST forgive to be forgiven..I just heard that today, while watching christian television. The Pastor said that 'God will not forgive us, if we have not forgiven those that have transgressed against us"..WOW, that's powerful thought there.
God bless you
Momof6
God bless you
Momof6
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Guest
Cornflower, I also like Charles Stanley...I watch him from time to time on late night christian Television. He is very wise in the scriptures. He's a very gentle,humble and kind minister...soothing, if you will.
I'm going to look for that book ..I think I'd really like to read it..
Thankyou for your insight on this subject. I appreciate it!
Blessings~
Momof6
I'm going to look for that book ..I think I'd really like to read it..
Thankyou for your insight on this subject. I appreciate it!
Blessings~
Momof6