I know. Someone hurt you. Someone may have really, really hurt you. I don’t mean they accidentally nudged you. I mean they absolutely, knowingly, truly hurt you deeply, and on purpose.

They either did not notice that they hurt you, or they hurt you on purpose and just do not care. Wow, that stings a lot. It seems like it is a pain that will never go away. Well, I have what may be some news for you: it won’t go away at all…

…unless you choose to forgive.

I normally do not like to lace my posts with a lot of quotes, but I believe that today needs to be different. Here is the first one.

“Not forgiving someone is like not pulling a thorn out of your foot just because you weren’t the one to put it there.” (Mercedes Lackey)

Using the thorn as a reference, hopefully you can see the silly result of not pulling it out. Hopefully you can start to understand that the residual pain you are feeling is not going to begin to heal until you forgive the person who hurt you. Along those lines, listen to these words:

“They caused the first wound, but you are causing the rest; this is what not forgiving does. They got it started, but you keep it going. Forgive and let it go, or it will eat you alive. You think they made you feel this way, but when you won’t forgive, you are the one inflicting the pain on yourself. (Bryant McGill)

I know: this is NOT FAIR! I mean, they are the ones who should be suffering (by your withholding forgiveness) just like you are (by the pain they inflicted). Unfortunately, that is not the way it works in the real world. In the real world, many times the offending party not only feels NO PAIN, they may actually ENJOY seeing you suffer. Not only is that not fair, it is mean. Spiteful. Pathetically immature.

True. Unfortunately, these facts will not reduce your pain. What will help to a large extent?

Choose to FORGIVE. Truly forgive. Deeply forgive. With your whole heart. Is it easy?

No.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely.

If my post has not gotten through to your heart yet, I hope these words by Gary Smalley will:

“Not forgiving somebody is like drinking poison and hoping that the offender will get sick.”

If you are struggling with this topic, I would strongly suggest that you begin TODAY to seek out wise counsel. Whether it be someone who has gone through the forgiveness process successfully, or a book that deals with the subject by a competent professional, or talking with a member of the clergy, I urge you to start the process.

If you truly want to feel renewed, forgive.

If you truly want to be able to love again, forgive.

If you want to be forgiven by God, forgive others. (Matthew 6:14)

It is your choice: forgive and begin to live again, or do not forgive and let your bitterness slowly eat away at your joy.

I know you will make the right choice.