Forgiveness is a constant in many of our lives. That part of the ‘life roller coaster’ that goes from hurt to pain, bitterness to depression and sense of being lost to confused. All resulting back to forgiveness, or so as it is said – in order to be free from these emotions we have to forgive.
Recently a colleague of mine surprisingly asked me “do you know how many times you’re supposed to forgive?” We talk often about upbringings, relationships, hurts, passions and differences between men and women, the responses to similar yet familiar scenarios. We are both actively practicing Christians, where forgiveness is one of the most talked about topics in the study.
8 years ago, when I started studying the bible, I learned the scripture of Matthew 18:21-22: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” 77 times!?!!! You all might be giving me the side eye like I gave (and still give) when it comes to this part of the study. I struggle with forgiveness and I know there is freedom in forgiveness.
The truth is, we are always going to run into hurt in one form or another if we are expecting for people to be a certain way, expecting for things to go a certain way or just expecting life to deal us the better hand. There is beauty in individuality and comfort in the art of differences. If we, for a moment, thought outside of our box of thinking something greater than is imaginable then we can open up a world of endless possibilities that will satisfy our beings. A world of no judgement, pure love and joy.
There are greater things in life outside of our 4 walls or 8, 12, 16, 100, etc. walls, which ever you may have. If we expand our thinking from the entrapment of what we sometimes call ourselves “stuck in,” forgiveness may possibly become easier.
Forgiveness is letting go of control. Forgiveness is a path to boundaries which ultimately lead to growth.
BE in peace of – forgiveness <3
