Forgiveness

I've been thinking this morning about unforgiveness.  
In my 20+ years of experience, working with students, it never ceases to amaze me at how people so young, can become so angry and bitter.


I have a pretty solid theory on that one, but that amount of information and opinion would take up another blog post on its own.  (let's suffice it to say, that their behaviors are learned, by observing the adults in their lives.)


To their credit, most students are quick to forgive and move on with life...but there are those who seem bent on holding on to anger, bitterness and out and out hatred.
Unfortunately, what many students and adults, for that matter, fail to realize is; anger, bitterness and hatred only hold us captive.  
They accomplish nothing of value and have no effect on the object of our loathing.


Think of a person against whom you are holding a grudge or harboring unforgiveness... What exactly are those feelings doing to them?  
Now, conversely, what is it doing to you?
Robbing you of joy, peace of mind, happiness...the full life that Jesus promised?  Your thoughts are consumed with how to get even, or exact some sort of twisted sense of satisfaction from their suffering.
The problem is:
The longer we linger in unforgiveness and bitterness, the longer we do damage to ourselves and more importantly, hinder the work that God is trying to do in us.


When we are wronged, or when someone we know is offended, we have a choice to make; forgive and let the offense go or hold on to it and nurse the grudge until it has consumed us...


Forgiveness brings freedom.  Period.  Unforgiveness, only brings bondage.


Forgiveness is one of the most important and powerful tools we possess in this life.


Too bad we don't use it as readily as we should.