7 x 7
How many times? 49? He can not be serious!
It has been years. Whatever the road – east or west, curvy or straight, sloped or flat.
It is exhausting.
The scenery differs, but the hard thump heralding the atomic destination feels identical.
Painful. Sorrow filled. Anger fueled.
I’m so tired.
Waiting to forgive again.
Being the better person, living His example, making peace.
Why? What’s the point?
Forgiveness is a catalyst. Starts the journey again down a coiling road.
No one says no.
No one says stop.
No one says this behavior is repulsive.
There are no consequences.
Well, that’s what it feels like.
To me.
There are consequences. I just don’t see them. I don’t feel them. I don’t know all of them.
There is something about anger and hurt that makes us feel like we have to be the author and finisher of the retribution. We have to be the ones to slap back, to cause equal or more pain. We have to win.
Man, what a mess we are. Humans.
Luke 17: 4
He said to His disciples, “Offenses[a] will certainly come,[b] but woe to the one they come through! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone[c] were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard. If your brother sins,[d] rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
We get caught up in this word forgive. Society leads us to believe forgiver is a synonym for doormat, mouse, milquetoast, loser.
All the clouds swirling around in our brains blocking out the son.
Forgiveness unlocks the chains that we use to bind ourselves. Forgiveness shifts the weight of pain from our hearts. Weightless our soul takes flight again.
We are asked to turn the other cheek; we are asked to love each other as ourselves.
Pay attention closely. We are also able to remove ourselves from toxic situations where only harm resides. Forgiveness means we hold no animosity, no anger, no ill will.
It doesn’t mean we have to stand still. We can move, disengage. We are to be authors of peace. We are to diffuse.
Sometimes peace comes with distance.
However you need to find your peace this week let that be the gift you give yourself. A gift of peace spreads from within and will clasp itself tightly to those around you.
Peace is sticky. It spreads.
Holidays are a time filled with tension for many. The best gift of thankfulness that some of us can bring to our families this year may be a gift of peace, understanding and unconditional love.
How many times does God ask us to forgive?
Every time.
That’s the gift of love.
purelyjoyous living 