Sorry is a game of 2-4 players who travel around a board with their pieces faster than any other player. The first player with all 4 pieces at Home wins. The game title comes from the many ways players can stop another’s progress, while issuing an apologetic “Sorry!”
In life we too often hurt each other. And one of the least spoken words are: I’m Sorry! If we are going to get past the hurdles of hurts we will have to use the words: I’m Sorry & You’re Forgiven.
C.S. Lewis once said, “We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.”
I’ve discovered 3 good lessons about forgiving others.
1. Forgiveness is a mark of the Christian life.
If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God’s grace and forgiveness, we will want to pass it on to others. Remember, grace is undeserved favor. By extending forgiveness, we are not excusing sin. We are recognizing the sinner, forgiving them, and loving them in spite of their sins – just as Christ did for us.
2. Forgiveness is contrary to the pattern of society.
In this day of constant lawsuits and demands for legal rights, forgiveness sounds impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, you want to hurt them back. You want to give them what they deserve. But God wants us to forgive them. Why?
Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation. Somebody should stop the hurting – why not you? Forgiveness may lead the person to feel ashamed and change their ways.
Yet, if we chose to take revenge, the hurt we give to others may hurt us as much as them. Even if a person doesn’t change, forgiveness will free you from a heavy load of bitterness.
3. Forgiveness is not a feeling or emotion, it is a choice.
Forgiveness involves attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving of someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions. Paul encourages us, “…conquer evil by doing good.” (Romans 12:21).
Give them a helping hand. Send a gift. Smile. Many times you will discover that acting in a forgiving way will lead to the feelings of forgiveness.
I have found that true forgiveness often involves pain. Somebody has been hurt and there is a price to pay in healing the wound. Love motivates us to forgive, but faith activates that forgiveness so that God can use it to work blessings in the lives of people. We forgive others as an act of faith in response to God’s forgiveness of us.
Today, instead of revenge, try forgiveness.