Forgiveness

The best weekend in April 2016, ended with the entire City of New Orleans, the National Football League, the New Orleans Saints team, and fans sad.  Only one person walked away from a tragic accident.  We live in a world of material possessions which can be replaced but the gift of life cannot be replaced.  Just like time, when a life is gone, it cannot be recovered.  Everything in life is different when we practice forgiveness.

I had a friend who I trusted. We were good friends and I considered her my girl.  We would hang out together, talk about personal stuff that you tell that one person who will not tell anyone else. I kept what she told me confidential; however, one day she told some of the things I told her. I was hurt and mad.  I stopped talking to her, cold turkey.  I did not tell her why I was not talking, I just stopped talking.  I would not answer any of her calls.  She had other people call and leave messages for me to contact her.  When her mother died, I did not call or attend the services.  I did the same thing when her father died.  One day, we happened to be in the same place and for 30 minutes it was extremely awkward.  We engaged in small talk yet, I still would not forgive her.  She hurt my feeling, I trusted her, she was wrong.  When I look back now I realize I have held on to something that has prevented me from moving forward and enjoying every part of life.

I had to realize what I was doing was not being honest with myself.  For almost two, yes, two years, I had been holding the ‘I AM MAD–YOU HURT ME’ banner and for what?  I was mad but it was not her fault, it was mine.  Yet, I tried in my mind to make it her fault we were not speaking.  She was still talking; she did not know what was wrong.

That is the way we are at times with God.  He sent His son Jesus to save the world.  Jesus calls us and we will not listen to Him or read God’s word.  I John 4:20 (NIV) — If a person says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. If a person does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God Whom he has not seen? So according to this I am a liar.  What does that mean?  I had to pick up the phone and call her and beg her to forgive me.  Not ask, I had to beg, for I was completely at fault.  So the thing that is hot this summer is forgiveness.  Forgiveness makes you a cool person with God.  Forgiveness is the only way we will remain cool in the hot summer of 2016.  Read next month for the outcome.