Post by tomdurst on Oct 30, 2013 6:07:12 GMT -5
MEETING A FORGIVENESS CHALLENGE
All of us at some time face a situation when it seems so very difficult to forgive as we have been deeply wounded. This happened to me a number of years ago with two friends that I felt had seriously betrayed my friendship and the confidence that I had placed in them. The disappointment and sadness were very deep and painful. Based on a suggestion that I read in a spiritual book I decided to try a very practical method to address my situation which I call "fake it until you make it." I started verbalizing out loud to myself something along this line, "I forgive _____ for ______" and I kept saying this repeatedly while I was out walking. At first this seemed kind of pointless but it was a true expression of the deepest desire of my heart which was really to forgive and have healing for myself and the other parties involved. My intention was strong but I felt so weak and helpless as to just what to do and so I started expressing my intention out loud over and over again. I didn't know where to even start but the guidance came to me that this would be a good place. After a while I could feel a deep peace and sense of forgiveness within that was wonderful and healing came to myself and the others involved. However, the relationship never returned to its original state which was largely because the other two individuals began to go on very different paths of life from one another and from mine as well and so we had no contact for many years. In recent years I've been in touch with both of them and while their life paths are still very different from mine we've had some good talks and the old feelings are long gone for all of us.
I share this personal experience with the prayer that it will bless you and help you find ways of dealing with serious forgiveness challenges. If your intention is to forgive you will have the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit to find healing for yourself and others. Healing should always be our ultimate goal.
Corrie ten Boom expresses well in the quote below what I've tried to share about my own forgiveness challenge. None of us could ever begin to imagine the forgiveness issues she had to face when the Nazis killed her whole family and my understanding is that she was only released from the concentration camp because of some mistake. Her words confirm my convictions that there must be a CHOICE on our part to forgive as the primary determining factor. Think about that as you deal with your own personal forgiveness issues. There are many other aspects of forgiveness that I would like to touch on in subsequent articles.
“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” ― Corrie ten Boom
Be SURE to read all of the posts on forgiveness on the link below:
FORGIVENESS