Forgiveness

Too often during recovery, the survivor of a traumatic experience ends up nursing the pain instead of the person. The same applies to grudges and grievances: by constantly mulling over the turn of events and the outrage of victimization, one keeps a bygone event alive, it loops endlessly in memory.

 

Granted, certain injustices, heartbreaks and betrayals do not lend themselves to easy forgetting. However, at the same time, "A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well." 

Fortunately, time heals old wounds. It wouldn't take so long if the wound was left to heal, rather than poked, peeled and prodded at every idle moment. Far better for the soul's health to forgive all wrongs as soon as possible, if not immediately. Whereas many there are that would never humble themselves and ask for forgiveness, nevertheless for such I find that forgiveness works like a text message: once sent, it hangs in the air until the intended recipient turns on their cellphone.

To err is human, to forgive divine. Indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ, even whilst he was being crucified, prayed for his mockers, accusers and murderers. "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they are doing." And then He died, but when He rose again, He picked up that line of forgiveness right where He left off, by extending the gift of salvation to every sinner who believes in Him, washing away our sins in His own blood.

We couldn't find a better example if we searched all history.