by Larry James
(taken from http://www.celebratelove.com/forgive.htm)
I just found this article and the message is very true..i'd like to share with all of you..
LoveNote. . . If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive. - Mother Theresa
Forgiveness works! It is often difficult, AND it works!
We often think of forgiveness as something that someone who has done us wrong must ask of US. There is always another way of looking at something. My thoughts on forgiveness suggest that you focus on offering forgiveness TO the person who has wronged you. To not forgive them is like taking the poison (continuing to suffer for what they did or didn't do to you) and expecting THEM to die!
Alexander Pope once said, "To err is human; to forgive, Divine." Believe it!
Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. It is not something you do FOR someone else. It is not complicated. It is simple. Simply identify the situation to be forgiven and ask yourself: "Am I willing to waste my energy further on this matter?" If the answer is "No," then that's it! All is forgiven.
Forgiveness is an act of the imagination. It dares you to imagine a better future, one that is based on the blessed possibility that your hurt will not be the final word on the matter. It challenges you to give up your destructive thoughts about the situation and to believe in the possibility of a better future. It builds confidence that you can survive the pain and grow from it.
Telling someone is a bonus! It is not necessary for forgiveness to begin the process that heals the hurt. Forgiveness has little or nothing to do with another person because forgiveness is an internal matter.
Choice is always present in forgiveness. You do not have to forgive AND there are consequences. Refusing to forgive by holding on to the anger, resentment and a sense of betrayal can make your own life miserable. A vindictive mind-set creates bitterness and lets the betrayer claim one more victim.
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MY THOUGHT....
In the end with all the theory surround us, all that matters is what The Bible says about forgiveness...is the TRUTH that we should count on..
Forgiveness as an attitude.
1. The example of Jesus — Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them . . . .”
2. The example of Stephen — Acts 7:60 “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”
3. God’s attitude–2 Peter 3:9 “not willing that any should perish”We are children of God!
4. Not talking about forgiveness of sins, but an attitude of forgiveness.
1) Not holding something against another.
2) Acting in such a way so as to purge one’s self of negative/sinful thoughts regarding the other.
3) Practicing love toward all men. Jesus said, “Love they neighbor as thyself.” (Mat:22:39) How can we do this if we hold something against them?
4) Emptying one’s heart of vengeful thoughts. Note the words of Paul in Romans 12:19-21 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
This is my heart desire that people can live in peace..no matter what happen in the past, we must stick our eyes to the future..and to have a blessed life that will pleased God's heart, we must love one another and make peace to one another..then we can see that we live in a WONDERFUL WORLD...
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