Why We Forgive

Oh, dear. The Washington Post has published an article that says it is all right NOT to forgive. Happily, Our Dear Heavenly Father gave me the words with which to comment. Thank you, Father! Here is what I wrote:

"This article is completely unscriptural. Take a look at Jesus, when he was dying on the cross. Did those who had persecuted, tortured, and crucified Him deserve to be forgiven? No, of course not. But Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Oh, they knew what they were doing in a physical sense, but they did not know that they were killing the very one who would die for their sins in order that they might be forgiven and be able to establish wonderful relationships with Our Dear Heavenly Father.

"Similarly, we don't necessarily forgive others because they deserve to be forgiven, but because we need to forgive them in order to get their offenses out of our systems. Otherwise, we stew over the offenses and torment ourselves until, at the extreme, they can destroy us -- emotionally and spiritually, if not physically. Better to pay Jesus' words than to suffer for the offenders' misdeeds.

"Pray on this. It will help you, time and time again. While you're at it, look up the words to "Let There Be Peace on Earth" (Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller). They have a wonderfully calming, forgiving effect."

For the Beauty of the Earth

 

For the Beauty of the Earth

 

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies.

Lord of all to thee we raise

This, our hymn of grateful praise.

–Folliott Sandford Pierpoint

 

As we seek peace in our lives, there is no better way than to step outside and take in the beauty of nature, which Our Dear Heavenly Father created.

 

Cumulus clouds have us imagine flying birds and running dogs, lifting us out of our daily concerns and into a few moments of childish delight.

 

       Newborn puppies leave us in awe and have us wanting to hold and stroke them, warming our hearts and clearing our minds of worldly matters.

 

       Beautiful scenes make us want to climb the hills, into the clouds. On a snowy day, they make us want to ride a sled back to the bottom, then climb back up for another ride, feeling as though we are ten years old again.

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul . . .

 

–Psalm 23:1-3 KJV

 

The next time life tries to drag you down, step outside, take in a deep breath, and watch the squirrels nibble on the peanut that someone dropped; the sunlight glittering on leaves as they blow in the wind; and the young child running after the ball, which his mom rolled across the grass for him to catch. You’ll feel the peace you seek filling every nook and cranny of your being.

 

Photo Credits:

Top: Kevin on coclouds.com

Center: Koosg via Wikimedia Commons

Bottom: Liggraphy on pixabay.com

Why is Peace so Difficult to Obtain?

 

Why is Peace so Difficult to Obtain?

 

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

–Matthew 5:9 KJV*

  

The Holy Bible tells us that there will be wars to the end of time (Matthew 24:6-8). As we read news reports about unrest around the world, we find ourselves wondering why the disagreeing powers can’t simply agree to disagree and get on with their lives. We can’t change them, even though we may be tempted to write letters to both parties, asking them, even pleading with them, to put down their weapons and accept that there is room for everyone’s opinion in this world.

No, we can’t change them, but we can find our own inner peace. This is the peace that allows us to have a good night’s sleep, rather than waking in the wee hours and worrying about things that happened in times past or that may or may not happen in the future. It has been said that 90 percent of what we worry about never happens. So, why do we worry?

Quite often, what we really fear is the lack of control we have in various situations. We can’t stop the world powers from endangering our lives. We can’t stop horrible illnesses from attacking us and our loved ones. We can’t stop Big Business from raising the cost of living to ridiculous heights. We can’t stop the companies we work for from downsizing to the point of laying us off simply so they can enjoy greater profits. The list goes on and on.

One of my favorite scriptures really helps me on those sleepless nights:

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid,

neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

 –Joshua 1:9 KJV

 

Let’s take a look at it. First of all, this is not a suggestion, but a command. We are to be strong and courageous. We are not to be afraid or discouraged. Why? Because Our Dear Heavenly Father is with us wherever we go. 

Not only is Our Dear Heavenly Father with us; He is in control (Isaiah 55:8-12). His will, not mankind’s, will be done, and His will is always scriptural. His will is in step with His commands – always! Just as we are commanded to worship only the one true God and not to misuse his name; to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy; to honor our parents; and just as we are commanded not to murder, cheat on our spouse, steal, lie, or covet that which is not ours, Our Dear Heavenly Father’s will also follows those commands (Exodus 20:3-17).

Those words, the Ten Commandments, tell us how we can live in peace with ourselves and others. We need only to live by Our Dear Heavenly Father’s commands. Then, we will have much less to feel guilty about and much less to worry about. Then, we can be strong, courageous, and unafraid, for we will know that we are on the right path. Is that not the peace we seek for our own lives? 

Jesus borrowed from the Book of Leviticus when he offered the second commandment as “Love thy neighbor as thyself”:

 

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people,

but thou shalt love thy neighbour . . .

 –Leviticus 19:18 KJV

 

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

There is none other commandment greater than these.

 Mark 12:31 KJV

 

How much peace we find when we love others, rather than when we remember every mistake or misdeed they ever did to us! What happened long ago ceases to be important. In today’s language, we might say, “Life happens,” “He goofed big time,” or “Get over it; he’s human.”

Indeed, we are all humans, and we all make mistakes. And, so, we come to another commandment:

 

Judge not lest ye be judged.

 –Matthew 7:1-5 KJV

 

It’s true. Just as soon as we accuse someone of saying or doing something they should not have said or done, we come to realize that we have done the same thing. The pot really should not call the kettle black, for we are all kettles, and we all have black marks against us. So, let’s let ourselves off the hook by letting others off the hook. We will find peace there, too!

Be well, be happy, be safe.  Keep the faith!  Keep the peace!

 

*  The King James Version of the Holy Bible is in the public domain.