Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Crimson | (c) M.M.Hewitt 2015 Downloading of this image for any use without written permission is strictly prohibited.
All of us make mistakes, and on a continual basis. Not a day goes by that we haven't messed up in some way. And some times those mistakes are humongous.
I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness. It's difficult when someone hurts you or someone close to you so badly that even the thought of forgiving them is difficult. You just don't want to do it. Especially in the times when they are unapologetic and think they have done nothing wrong. We may believe that there are certain acts or certain people who are undeserving of forgiveness. Our feelings are more important than they are and so we hold on to that anger and we become bitter and ugly people. Once we've become that bitter person we are no longer capable of happiness. If everyone took this mentality that none is deserving of forgiveness, how ugly of a world would we live in!
I was reminded of this when I was talking with the young ladies from my church. I'm currently having difficulties wrapping my head around the logistics of how to forgive someone who has hurt my family and I deeply. They brought to light the fact that firstly it's going to take time before I am capable of forgiveness, the pain is still too strong, the ordeal is still on going, but most importantly that I make painful mistakes that impact others as well. They may not be as devastating but they can still hurt others. But mistakes can be forgiven. And mistakes can be forgotten. We can shed them from our souls and leave them behind, never to be thought of again. Of course there will always be new mistakes but the process can be repeated.
I would hate to think that there is someone standing at some crossroads in our respective trails stuck at some point standing by the heap of my mistake that I had shed and left behind. A mistake that I had worked through and made reparations for but that they could not forgive and forget and so are left standing unable to move forward and be happy. And while I don't know if the person who recently crossed my path and left their mistake behind them will ever make reparations, I don't want to be left glued to the spot forever brooding over what they did and miss out on being happy. Forgiveness is a gift, one that is given us by a gracious Father in Heaven, one that was paid for by our brother Jesus Christ through his atonement. To not forgive would be a disservice to them and a misuse of their sacrifice. Whether you believe in a God or not, forgiveness is not an exclusive religious act, it's one that is a vital part to the happiness of all human life.