Random Thoughts of Mine...

Hello folks. I wanted to start off 2006 talking a little bit about forgiveness. There are many times in our lives when others have wronged us. It is quite easy to hold a grudge against that person because of that offense. There are many examples of people holding grudges against another person for days, weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes the person that you may be holding a grudge against is a family member. Sadly, there are many cases where the offendee never speaks to the offender again. Many times the offender dies and the offendee (who may care deeply for the offender) regrets not speaking to that person ever again. How many of us have done something similar? How many of us are still holding resentment against someone?

Below are some definitions from Webster's Dictionary:

grudge: a feeling of deep seated resentment or ill will

resent: to feel or exhibit annoyance or indignation at

forgive: 1: to give up resentment of 2: PARDON, ABSOLVE 3: to grant relief from payment of

forgiving: 1: willing or able to forgive 2: allowing room for error or weakness

pardon: to free from penalty: EXCUSE, FORGIVE

absolve: to set free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt

parable: a simple story told to illustrate a moral truth

Now imagine if, God forbid, a man killed a loved one of yours. This person was caught and sent to prison for his crime. He later sent you a remorseful letter explaining why he did what he did, and asking for your forgiveness. Would you forgive him?

Forgiveness is something that I have struggled with many times over the years. Many of us have had this struggle too, I'm sure. I do believe that it is better to forgive someone than to keep that resentment bottled up inside of you. That resentment will eventually lead to many emotional and health problems if you do not let go of it. This world would be a much better place if we all just learned to forgive each other.

Below is a parable, by Jesus of Nazareth, from the Bible. It's used here in the context of this post. There are other examples of teachings about forgiveness in other religions, or even in some secular stories. If anybody has any examples, I would like to read them. The following parable is taken from Matthew 18: 21-35.

Forgiving Others
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
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.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped [begged] him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredest me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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