What is forgiveness? The simplest definition is found in Merriam Webster’s dictionary for kids, “the act of ending anger.” I would add–it’s letting go of blame, resentment, and hate, allowing room in our heart to embrace our future.
Everyone is faced with the decision to forgive people during their lives. Sometimes extending forgiveness can be fairly easy and simple, but in some circumstances, forgiveness can be extremely difficult, like abuse, parental misguidance, a doctor’s error, acts of racism, sexual molestation, low self-esteem, bullying. The list of trauma goes on.
As you begin the fall season, I would like to challenge you to take a journey with me. It’s a journey to rid yourself of things that clutter your life. One of the biggest is unforgiveness.
Joyce Meyer says it best, “Choosing forgiveness is one of the most difficult things God asks us to do, and especially if we believe that whoever hurt us is in the wrong and doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. But God instructs us to practice forgiveness. And when we choose to follow the path of forgiveness, we will experience the peace and joy that comes through obeying God’s Word.”
I will share steps of the journey from my book, How Many Times Do I Forgive? Life-Changing Stories of People Who Have Chosen to Forgive. I will begin with the first step and additional steps will follow in the next blog.
As you begin your journey, keep in mind that forgiveness is not for the person who harmed you, it’s for you; it’s so that you can heal.