“Please forgive me…”

The plea comes in the dark stillness of the night. My world spinning, my mind drunk on rum and love.

For months I’ve been praying and pondering forgiveness. I’m still trying to figure out how to walk the path. I don’t think I know how to give it…or sadly how to actually receive it. Like so many things in life, forgiveness seems like another practice in ‘letting go’. As near as I can tell, forgiveness requires five things…

First a deep personal understanding of your offense or transgression, this could be against yourself, others, or God.

Second an honest full-hearted confession, you must be able to express your understanding to whomever you are seeking forgiveness from. (yourself, others, or God)

Third…prayer. forgiveness is recognition of a spiritual wound; prayer is how spiritual healing happens.

Forth…we need the capacity to forgive others, to pray with them to heal their spiritual wounds with them, the guilt they hold that pierces their spirit, you are a part that, you didn’t ask to be…but you are. it’s too heavy for them to keep carrying alone you must help them dislodge it from themselves, share the burden and the gift of lifting it to the Lord so He may take it from both of you.

Fifth and finally for us on this earth, we must be willing to repeat this cycle with ourselves and others as many times as we are needed.

I believe without all of these things, forgiveness is not true. Forgiveness should never be confused with Love. True love endures all things, without exception…it however does not imply forgiveness, it includes acceptance. Acceptance is not forgiveness. True love is one sided, it comes from one without the expectation of return. Forgiveness requires both or all sides to be present, aware, informed, willing and able.

These are my thoughts on forgiveness anyway, a struggle I continue to have. Below are some verses that have helped me map my process. I would encourage you to consider reading them and praying about them.

1 John 1:9 indicates that if we confess our sins, we will find forgiveness.

Proverbs 28:13 also indicates that we need to confess our sins and not hide them.

James 5:15-16 indicates that through prayer and confessing our sins to each other, we will be healed and forgiven.

Matthew 6:14-15 spoken from Christ if we forgive others, we too shall be forgiven.

Matthew 18:21-22 Christ tells us, what I consider to be the final lesson of forgiveness, now how to forgive, how many times to forgive.

What is forgiveness? How do you give it? Do we need to know what we are forgiving? If you’re read this, please consider sharing your thoughts on forgiveness.

Keep smiling, you’re worth it!

Always Yours

me