Forgiveness Gave Me a Father

Sometime back I was listening to an interview with George Forman. At the end of the interview, he was asked about his father. He never knew his father growing up. He wasn’t around. In fact, he didn’t meet the man until after he had made it as the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He said about growing up, “My father never helped me. He never gave me anything. I could have said, ‘I don’t have a father.’ (But) Today I can tell my children, ‘Hey, your grandfather fought in World War II.’ Why? Because forgiveness gave me a father. And forgiveness will give my children a grandfather…” 

He went on to say, “Forgiveness is that subtle thread that binds love and friendship.”

In your own life, I hope that you will not cling to old grudges or to bitterness or resentment. Don’t let the idea of revenge eat away at your soul. Remember that forgiveness does not mean condoning. Forgiveness does not mean we don’t have clear boundaries and protect ourselves when needed. But forgiveness does have to do with the state of our own hearts. When we forgive – we are really setting ourselves free.

Let us pray: God of Hope, so often we pray, ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.” But it is not easy, Lord. We thank you the forgiveness, mercy and grace that you have shown us. Help us to share these gifts with others, and by doing so may we find healing and freedom; through Jesus, we pray. Amen.