Forgiveness.,,,

So often I hear people say they cannot forgive people for certain things.  I think we can forgive people of just about anything if we really try.  Forgiveness does not mean you have to overlook all they have done.  If they wronged you, then you can either dwell on what they did and let it eat away at you or you can ask God to give you the strength to forgive.  You don't have to spend time with them.  You just go on living and enjoying your life the way God intends you to.

I had a woman who was about 90 years old, call and asked if I would forgive her.  This woman was many years older then me and when I was young, she did not fail to tell me my mother was no good and I would end up being just like her.  She said several other hurtful things to at various times in my life.  i was always too fat or two slow.  One time we were at the dinner table and this woman was here.  Someone was trying to pass the potatoes and I did not see them.  I did hear her say, "See how retarded she is.  She will not even pass the potatoes when she should,"  This woman was in her fifties and i was a small girl.  Those things stay with you.  I thought of it often but never let it get me down and I did not get angry when I thought about it.  I simply said, "I forgave you a long time ago.  I just never told you,"

And it is true.  I did.  I could have hated her but that is not my way of dealing with things.

This post came to mind when i read today's bible lesson and I will share it with you....
Matthew 18: 21-35
²¹ Then came Peter to him, and said , Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  ²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.  ²³ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  ²⁴ And when he had begun to reckon , one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  ²⁵ But forasmuch as he had not to pay , his lord commanded him to be sold , and his wife, and children, and all that he had , and payment to be made . ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down , and worshipped him, saying , Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  ²⁷ Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion , and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.  ²⁸ But the same servant went out , and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat , saying , Pay me that thou owest . ²⁹ And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying , Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  ³⁰ And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt . ³¹ So when his fellowservants saw what was done , they were very sorry , and came and told unto their lord all that was done . ³² Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  ³³ Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  ³⁴ And his lord was wroth , and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  ³⁵ So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, Noah got drunk, David had an affair, Paul was a murderer, Miriam was a 

gossip, Abraham was old, Lazerus was dead, Gideon was insecure, Martha was a worrier,  Thomas was a doubter, 

Sarah was impatient, Elijah was depressed, Moses stuttered, and zaccheus was short.  God does not expect people to 

be perfect. God does not call the qualified.  He qualifies the called.  We must understand that once  He calls us, we are 

qualified to do what He wants us to do. You do not have to look a certain way.  He will call you if you open up your 

heart to Him and ask His forgiveness.

Luke 11:9   And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

He expects nothing else from us but to live our lives according to His word and follow Him.  You know it is really not that hard once we decide to follow Him.  Is it easy?  It may seem hard to do if you are not really living the life you should be living.  You may think you have to give up too much but once you decide to follow Christ, you are not really giving up much of anything.