As a Christian my faith says that I should "live in harmony" with other Christians. I was recently reading 1Corinthians in chapter 1 - wow, I was challenged!
If we are honest with ourselves, I'm sure we can all think of a time that we didn't want harmony in some of our relationships, times when we didn't have any interest in being part of a solution, but instead might have even tried to be part of the problem - I say this, because I know I have played this role on more than one occasion. But this isn't the role we were called to play as Christians - We were, and have been called to be part of a solution, not more of the problem.
When you have been wrong, or hurt by someone, forgiving them is the best thin you can do. Not really for them, but for yourself. By holding on to that hurt, and dragging it along with you through life it only hardens your heart, consumes your every thought, and continues to bring hurt to you - not the person who hurt you. Most of the time they don't even know, or care, that they hurt you. This i s the hardest part for me. Its easy to say 'Yes I forgive you' but it's hard to continue to live that forgiveness out. Its hard to not go back and replay situations over and over in your mind. Or to conjure up things you should have said - normally not very nice things, I'm sure - or rethink 'that text/email/message wasn't even an apology, an apology should be done in person!' Maybe that last one is just me, but you get the idea.
What I have learned that helps in continuing to give forgiveness to those that have hurt us is continuing to ask God's help in the situation. We would never be able to give forgiveness with out Christ's help. It's only through Him that we can do it. I know, one situation took me several years to finally get over, and be at peace with. I don't have much of a relationship with that person any more because of it, but its freeing knowing that that past hurt is no longer hanging over me. It got to be too much and started creating bitterness with in me. Not a quality I want to have.
This is a hard one, forgiving I don't believe means forgetting or even have the same type of relationship. I believe it means setting that person free from you and not holding that grudge. It is an impossible task when we don't seek Gods help. Bitterness isn't a good quality for anyone, and with Christ's help everyone can have that freedom! Now I'd love to hear your thoughts - I know tough subject today, thanks for hanging in there with me.
Rebecca -
If we are honest with ourselves, I'm sure we can all think of a time that we didn't want harmony in some of our relationships, times when we didn't have any interest in being part of a solution, but instead might have even tried to be part of the problem - I say this, because I know I have played this role on more than one occasion. But this isn't the role we were called to play as Christians - We were, and have been called to be part of a solution, not more of the problem.
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What I have learned that helps in continuing to give forgiveness to those that have hurt us is continuing to ask God's help in the situation. We would never be able to give forgiveness with out Christ's help. It's only through Him that we can do it. I know, one situation took me several years to finally get over, and be at peace with. I don't have much of a relationship with that person any more because of it, but its freeing knowing that that past hurt is no longer hanging over me. It got to be too much and started creating bitterness with in me. Not a quality I want to have.
This is a hard one, forgiving I don't believe means forgetting or even have the same type of relationship. I believe it means setting that person free from you and not holding that grudge. It is an impossible task when we don't seek Gods help. Bitterness isn't a good quality for anyone, and with Christ's help everyone can have that freedom! Now I'd love to hear your thoughts - I know tough subject today, thanks for hanging in there with me.
Rebecca -
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