Well, folks…our series on forgiveness is done but our work in that area isn’t.  And it won’t ever be as long as we are alive, will it?  There are a couple of things I’d like to add that I think may be helpful for all of us still working on forgiveness. 

 

First of all, I used several books as resources that were very helpful.  In fact, if you read them, you’ll see where I got several examples.  Here are 4 books that I used and could help you:

1.      What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey

2.      Forgive and Forget by Lewis Smedes

3.      The Peace Maker by Ken Sande

4.      The Freedom of Forgiveness by Myron Augsburger

 

Second, in The Peace Maker, Ken Sande lists 4 promises that we need to make when we are forgiving someone, especially in those relationships that we hope to rebuild.  The promises are:

1.      I will not dwell on this incident.

2.      I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you.

3.      I will not talk to others about this incident.

4.      I will not let this incident stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.

 

Third, I’d just like to remind you that forgiveness is both an event and a process.  The event is the decision we make to forgive – to extend forgiveness even when we don’t feel it emotionally.  It is a cognitive choice.  The process involves working out that decision – doing the repair work, removing the rubble from the wall that you have decided to take down.  We have to dismantle the wall of fear, hate and revenge.  This doesn’t mean that the person who hurt us is now our best friend, but it does mean that we are working to replace hostility and separation with peace and friendship (Sande). 

 

It’s hard work, but it is worth it.  You can be free.  You can walk free with God’s help.  So invite him to the process and know that God can and will help you on this path of forgiveness.

 

I finish with this challenge – What greater gift could Christians give to the world than the forming of a culture that upholds grace and forgiveness? (Yancey) 

 

Ps. this didn’t really fit anywhere, but it makes me smile whenever I read it so I’m passing it on:  A little girl’s prayer – “O God, make the bad people good, and the good people nice.”

No Comments »