Meditation for Perfectionists – Thursday March 28, 2024
Beginning To Forgive
Genesis 50:15-17: “I ask you to forgive your brothers the… wrongs they committed in treating you so badly” (v.17).
What if the person we need to forgive is one we are to respect? What if the one who harmed us is a parent, teacher, spouse or minister? Forgiving may seem like an impossible task.
Smoldering anger and resentment at someone who hurt me contributed to my workaholism and burnout. I wanted to forgive, but it was difficult. In the book, Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Donπt Deserve, Lewis B. Smedes’ insight helped me: “The highest respect you can show people is to let them take responsibility for their own actions. Love has… the power to let people be responsible for hurting us. Love does not forever find excuses for them, or protect them.”
We may find acknowledging another’s abuse difficult, because it contradicts all we were taught. The admonition, “Honor those in authority” may have contained the hidden meaning, “Always do what you are told, keep the peace, and hide the truth if it hurts or looks bad.” But God is pleased when we admit the truth, even about our hurts. Facing reality releases us to begin forgiving.
Lord, Joseph didn’t excuse his brothers’ wrongs.
But he did forgive.
Please help me do the same.
Copyright Joan C. Webb
For more from Joan Webb visit www.joancwebb.com