Jewel sings, "In the end only kindness matters." (Is this true?)
Matthew 6:15
But if you do not forgive others their sins,
your Father will not forgive your sins.
Do you know anyone who seems to hate everyone?
No small slight is forgotten. It is recalled, recounted, forever.
If you ask them about it you will be met with rage.
Small things. Medium things.
Something done to someone else.
If you are ever guilty, you are always guilty.
It's not much, but enough
to coil around a heart and choke the life inside.
And let's not talk about me.
(Do you ever remember a fault?)
Do these little things matter? Can unforgiveness drag you down? How far?
It is a failing of mine that I find it hard to forgive.
ReplyDeleteA trick: pray for the person and unforgiveness will lose its grip.
DeleteI suppose it's not a trick. Ha ha. It is in the bible. :)
Forgiveness is sooo important.
ReplyDeleteThe other phrase thrown around that is not true is "Love is all you need".
True!
DeleteI think it is so important to forgive.
ReplyDeleteNot forgiving makes you bitter and angry.
Yes...
DeleteForgiveness is bad for the person who does not forgive, it eats away at them.
ReplyDeleteSad. True.
DeleteAbsolutely YES!
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteIt does matter. If you don't forgive, the person who hurt you is going on with life, and you are held back, hanging onto it!
ReplyDeleteYES! There's an old saying that it's like taking poison and hoping your enemy gets sick.
Deletesublime post dear Sandi!
ReplyDeletei agree what we keep inside us make us ugly or beautiful or strong or weak
putting ourselves in others shoes is something make us realize how it feel to do good
or bad to anyone
if we want kindness of Lord we have to be one for others
blessings!
Amen.
DeleteWho does not forgive the soul of the stone does...
ReplyDeleteWell said!
DeleteNot forgiving just rents too much space in my head. Just better to let go -- but it isn't always easy.
ReplyDeleteYes. Too much space!
DeleteIt is not a little thing. Unforgiveness will drag you down into the abyss.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteIt is a big thing.
Forgiveness matters! You do it for yourself. You don't want not to become a miserable and bitter person.
ReplyDeleteTrue!
DeleteHi Sandi :) Forgiveness DOES matter. But I think that people are confused by it. Many people think it's about letting a person get away with horrible things. It's not. It's about trying to work through the hurt and pain, allowing yourself to let it all go so it doesn't continue to haunt you. It's a person's choice as to whether or not they allow that person who hurt them back into their life or not. It took me decades to "forgive" my family. I finally worked through the trauma and pain but disowned them and I feel very much at peace. I forgive to help myself.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I also forgive people I love for their mistakes and continue to love them because they try not to repeat those mistakes that cause hurt. In that way I forgive for myself and for them.
Great post! :)
Totally agree, Rain.
DeleteI am sorry to hear you have had to distance yourself from them. It is heartbreaking, but I understand. Wishing you peace.
Thank you for being so open and sharing here.
It's hard to forgive, even harder to forget. But the effort is worth it.
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteI find its much easier to forgive and move on, than be burdened. It does take years to learn this. I still have a couple of people I am still trying to forgive and forget...sometimes I don't know which is which. Have I forgiven and just can't forget? Or is it the other way around?
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes we don't forget. But if the memory no longer stings, you have forgiven.
DeleteForgiveness is surely great for the soul☺
ReplyDeleteSó quem perdoa merece ser perdoado…
ReplyDeleteUma boa semana.
Um beijo.
Yes, forgiveness matters very much, for so many reasons, and you shared an important verse at the beginning of your post.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week, Sandi.
~Sheri
The burden you carry by not forgiving is just not worth it and you will not be able to move forward.
ReplyDeleteYes we should forgive. Janice
ReplyDeleteYes, the doll is Mary holding Jesus. It's so soft. I love it. And they also have a Jesus doll, which is soft too. Jess bought me one, and it's sitting on my bedroom table. : )
ReplyDeleteForgiveness sets us free from the bondage of sin and darkness and bitterness. I am so thankful that Jesus has forgiven me, and therefore I am responsible for forgiving those who may have hurt me in some way. Without that, I would be most miserable. Forgiveness is a gift to our souls.
ReplyDeleteForgiveness does matter, absolutely! It's freeing for your soul to forgive, and it is amazing to be forgiven.
ReplyDelete❤️
ReplyDeleteUn-forgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets hurt.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I was about to post a similar comment to what Victor has already said.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Can you tell me how you added the REPLY feature to the comments on your blog? Thanks much.
It was just part of the template I chose.
DeleteSandi "forgiveness sets the prisoner free and you are that prisoner". Read that line several years ago. Forgiveness certainly matters not just for others but for ourselves as well. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie!
DeleteHi Sandi,
ReplyDeleteyes we must forgive others, and what I believe is a major help for us to do this is part of the 'love' spoken of in 1 Corinthians ch. 13 vs. 4-7, especially not keeping a record of wrongs. The battle is not against flesh and blood, but is spiritual. There is also a time for praying for those who, without the Holy Spirit's guidance we might never consider it, and there is also a time for refraining from speaking. God has a wonderful way of changing all of mankind, and He wants all to be saved. That Word is our judge and is the only process that can do that.
Thank you, Brenda!
DeleteWoW! so true!
ReplyDeleteSue
It is not always easy to forgive but it is so important to. Not forgiving can 'eat away' at you leaving you feeling bitter and angry.
ReplyDeleteLove that image you've used in this post.
All the best Jan