Tag Archives: forgiveness

FORGIVENESS

Easter, Uncategorized, , ,

As I look forward to the celebration of Easter, I remember that without the cross, there would be no Resurrection. The cross is about forgiveness, for through it, I am forgiven and I celebrate new life.

FORGIVENESS

Come walk with me in fields of white,
in heaven’s place of glorious light,
where dark clouds part and souls wash clean
in Jesus’ blood. Come–see the scene
when He was killed and took my place.
Look close and see His pain-pierced face.
Hear his words, “Forgive their deeds.”

Those words for them beneath the tree,
are meant for us, yes, for all men–
the word of grace men’s hearts to mend.
The stain of sin is washed away,
the darkness gone. Come walk in day.

Come walk with me on paths of light,
cleansed with His blood, our souls washed white.

FORGIVENESS

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Here is the story finish for the Blog Event, Finish It #9. Thanks, Author S B Mazing for another chance to write a story from your prompt. It has been a great experience and great fun.

The prompt: Sitting on the rock, his feet dangling in the water. It was the place he could relax, where all the pressure was lifted off his shoulders. He wished he could share it with her though. While his eyes scanned the ocean, he wondered where she would be right  now, what she was doing and whom she was with. To be continued:

How often he had come here since she had left him. She told him she wanted a divorce. It hit him hard. He thought they had overcome the problems and come to a new understanding and they could rebuild and be happy.

“I’m sorry, Josh. I . . . just don’t love you anymore,” she confessed. “I thought it might work between us, but it hasn’t.” Within a few hours, she was completely out of his life.

He had prayed. It hadn’t seemed to work. She didn’t come back. Sometimes he thought he saw her in a crowd but it wasn’t her. Thoughts ran through his mind as he gazed into the water lapping at his feet. We used to share these moments of relaxation. But no more. Who’s she with? Who’s taking care of her?

His pastor told him he needed to forgive. That didn’t mean what happened didn’t count. It meant he set himself free from anger and bitterness, the very thing that would destroy him. His anger couldn’t hurt her. But to forgive her is too hard, he argued with himself.

As stood up to go, a vivid memory flashed before him. He had been a difficult teen. He had stolen money from his single mother. He remembered how disrespectful he had been to her when she was trying so hard to support them. Then, something involved him in church and his life changed, inside and out. The hardest thing he ever did was to go to mother and ask her to forgive him—advice from his pastor. His mother had folded her arms around him, her tears falling on his neck. “Of course, my boy. Of course.”

He looked up to the sky. “Lord, it is too hard in myself, but you can help me.” Gritting his teeth with determination he continued, “I forgive her.” With that, he dried tears that had filled his eyes. A new light seemed to flow around him. He knew the sadness wouldn’t dissolve immediately; he would have to repeat the words when he the hurting seemed unbearble. But with the words had come a new freedom. He turned toward his car, then turned back once more. “Dear Lord, I let go of her. Take care of her.”

Finish It 2

Finish It 2, , , , , ,

This is the second story beginning for “Finish It” by Author S B Mazing.

How was it possible that she ended up here? She was so careful, followed the rules and took no risks whatsoever.

How many times had she had asked herself that as she looked at the final divorce papers. She had done everything she knew to have a good marriage and now her fifteen year marriage was ending. Paul had found someone he thought “better suited him.”

Her mom hugged her close when Hannah showed her the divorce papers. “Oh, my sweet child,” she had said, “I am so sorry. Sometimes the other person turns our care, our rules, and lack of risks on their heads. There are always risks in human relationships. We humans are so self-centered, even when we are at our best. It doesn’t excuse the bad that we do, but knowing that helps us deal with others’ failures. And our own.”

And as the months passed in waiting for the divorce to be final, she struggled between wanting Paul to return and never wanting to see him again. But unless God changed his heart, he wasn’t coming back. And it wasn’t fair to her daughters to keep him out of their lives or to try to make them hate him.

Her mother was her constant encouragement not to let bitterness control her life. “He is still their father and they want him to be part of their lives,” she counseled. “Besides, bitterness only eats you up.” She hugged Hannah often and then added her favorite quote, “ ‘Forgiveness releases the prisoner, which is you.’ My darling, look what God has done for you.”

Hannah didn’t want to hear that at first. How could she do that? Paul had ruined her life and the lives of their daughters! But as she struggled in prayer each night, praying for grace to not let her own heartache make her daughters’ lives harder, she began to find light wedging into her darkness. As the days put distance between the divorce papers and the present day, she watched her husband interact with her daughters. Her urge to yell at him softened.

One day, her twelve year old came to her. “Mom,” she asked, “can I ask you a question? It’s about you and Daddy.”

Hannah felt her throat tighten, but she nodded. “Of course.”

“My friend, Silvy–her parents are divorced. But her mom makes life miserable when her dad comes to visit and tries to keep him from seeing her. It is so hard for her. Mom, you don’t act that way.”

Hannah hugged her daughter. “Oh, my girl. Your Grandma said something to me when I learned that Daddy and I were getting a divorce. She told me her favorite quote: ‘Forgiveness releases the prisoner, which is you.’ Then she added, ‘My darling, look what God has done for you.’ I know you love Daddy and he loves you, even though he decided not to live here anymore. I wish it could be different, but it isn’t. So, I have learned to walk in that. I don’t want to be Daddy’s enemy.”

Her daughter smiled. “Thanks, Mom. I love you.” She paused and added slowly, her smile fading, “I love Daddy, too.”

Hannah smiled. “I’m glad.”

Her daughter kissed her cheek and skipped out of the room. Hannah reflected on what she had said. Life had not been easy the last few years, but light had penetrated the darkness. She whispered a quick prayer before she went back to her chores: “Thank you, Father, for your forgiveness and for your grace to me to walk in that same forgiveness. I may still hurt, but I am no longer a prisoner.”