A Gift to Yourself

The great author C.S. Lewis once wrote about a teacher who had brutalized him as a boy. Lewis grew up hating this teacher.  Later in life, as he began to mature in his faith, he realized that he had to forgive this man or he would not be able to grow deeper in his relationship with God.  He struggled and struggled to do so. In fact, he said the bitterness was just too great to be able to let go and to forgive. 

Finally, Lewis resolved to just say the words, “I forgive you,” every day, whether he felt like it or not. Every day he repeated his mantra, “I forgive you. I forgive you,” until something began to happen. Later he wrote, “Each time I said those words another stone was removed from the wall of bitterness I had built, until, one day, I came to realize that the wall was no longer there.” 

Friend of Dial Hope, forgiveness is possible. You do not have to allow what someone else did to you in the past to continue to control you and hurt you. If there is bitterness or hatred consuming you, begin with prayer. Remember, forgiveness is not condoning. It is not excusing what the other person did. It is not necessarily forgetting. You may still need to keep your distance. But forgiveness is a letting go, it has to do with the state of your own heart. It is a gift, first and foremost for you. 

Let us pray: Beginning today, O God, help us to let go of any past resentment or hatred or bitterness we may be harboring. We leave it to you to one day make things right. Right now, as we say the words, “I forgive you,” may we begin to feel your peace. May that very peace guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus; in whose name we pray. Amen.