Putting on the Raincoat Called Forgiveness
Putting on the Raincoat Called Forgiveness
Reflections by Rev. Harry Stackhouse
Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Forgiveness is a necessary ingredient in every relationship, for everyone at one time or another makes a mistake and offends someone. Therefore, place forgiveness high on your relationship ladder. Make it a forethought not an afterthought.
Put on the attitude of forgiveness what I call the “raincoat of forgiveness” before an offense. This will help you manage adverse situations and hurtful encounters more gracefully. Putting on this attitude will protect you from letting things go deep into your soul.
What exactly is forgiveness? It is the renunciation and cessation of resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, disagreement, or mistake, ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. It is “burying the hatchet” and not in the back of the offender.
When someone hurts you a choice has to be made to hold on to anger, resentment and thoughts of revenge or you embrace forgiveness and move forward toward the place of wholeness. Forgiveness leads to reconciliation while choosing not to forgive leads to separation.
Choosing not to forgive many times does not hurt the person who offended you but frequently scars the one who is not forgiving. An article from the Mayo Clinic wrote this, “Nearly everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another. Perhaps your mother criticized your parenting skills, your colleague sabotaged a project or your partner had an affair. These wounds can leave you with lasting feelings of anger, bitterness or even vengeance, but if you don’t practice forgiveness, you might be the one who pays most dearly. By embracing forgiveness, you can also embrace peace, hope, gratitude and joy. Consider how forgiveness can lead you down the path of physical, emotional and spiritual healing.”
Forgiveness is a choice to let go of the resentment and thoughts of hurt and revenge. The actual act that hurt or offended you might always be a part of your life, but it is not your whole life. There is a healthy, prosperous life beyond the offense. Forgiveness lessens the grip of pain that is in the betrayed person’s heart and helps the offended person focus on other positive parts of their life.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you deny the other person’s responsibility for hurting you, and it doesn’t minimize or justify the wrong. You can forgive the person without excusing the act. Forgiveness brings a kind of peace that helps you go forward with life.
Put on the raincoat of forgiveness before the negative circumstances fall. It will protect your soul. Place it high on your relationship ladder.