Loving and forgiving

Sometimes on BART I read my little Bible and today I was reminded...

"For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. (Matthew 6:14-15)


What in human nature makes it so hard to forgive? I believe that Jesus' greatest gift to us while he was on the earth was the gift of forgiveness. People still believe "an eye for an eye." That was the Old Testament, even God changed his stance. Forgiving is one of the toughest things to do in the world. I have held grudges for years. But really, what does that do for you? It doesn't allow you to grow.
Anger can consume me with hatred and that blocks out the love I can give and receive. It gives you a negative energy that others can feel. That anger can cloud your judgment and cause fights and even arguments with people that you are not even directing your anger toward.

I don't want to carry that dark cloud of negative energy along with me. And although it is easy to say I forgive, it is harder to live out. There are stages to forgiveness. I have to forgive unconditionally for me to fully feel God's love. It takes time but it is time I am willing to give. For anyone that thinks I am angry with them, that I am holding something against them for something done in the past, I just want to say that I am not angry. I want them to know that I forgive them. And I know I am not perfect so for anyone holding anything against me for being a jerk, for not being honest, for bruising him or her while dancing, I hope you can forgive me.