Forgiveness. (disclaimer: this post does not have pictures. I realize this is a serious bummer for those of you who just like to look at photos of food and will therefore snap unnecessary amounts of the Ratatouille I create Thursday)

I was downloading some songs yesterday when all of a sudden the song “Matter of the heart” by Don Henley popped into my head. I have no idea when I last heard the song, it was just one of those moments (I promise that you know the song, you just have to be patient enough to get to the chorus) and I went with it and pressed “buy”. The chorus is seriously catchy and has been on the repeat list in my mind (and on my computer) ever since, and although there are other (arguably more exciting) things I’d like to post, I feel that the Lord is pulling on me to share a little about this topic. SO, away we go:

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned” -Buddha

I should tell you that I’m not harboring a grudge against anyone-that’s not quite my style these days-but I’m still working on the F word.  You can be struggling with forgiveness in a situation or within yourself as well. It seems important to realize that there’s a huge difference between accepting an apology with your mouth or your mind and making a conscious and continuous effort to forgive in your heart also. It’s the latter of the two that’s crucial to yourself, and also the most difficult.

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong” -Gandhi

Corrie ten Boom (the woman behind “The Hiding Place”: an awesome book) had this to say about forgiveness:

“If you have ever seen a country church with a bell in the steeple, you will remember that to get the bell ringing you have to tug awhile. Once it has begun to ring, you merely maintain the momentum. As long as you keep pulling, the bell keeps ringing. Forgiveness is letting go of the rope. It is just that simple. But when you do so, the bell keeps ringing. Momentum is still at work. However, if you keep your hands off the rope, the bell will begin to slow and eventually stop.”

Corrie’s quote first came up in church a few months back, and the momentum part of it explains what forgiveness is like for a lot of people. And I mean A LOT: I spoke with 3 friends just this weekend who are struggling with that part; for one it has already been years, for another several months and another only a few weeks. I’m proud of all three of these people because they’ve realized their need to “let go of the rope”, something we should all be inspired to do. It doesn’t mean you won’t still hear it ringing -or feel a stab of anger, pain or fear- but it’s the only way to distance yourself from the situation. If you’re struggling with the F word, trust that the momentum of the bell will slow until it gets so faint that you won’t hear it anymore. If you’ve been strong enough to let go, know that He has never given you more than you can carry and that peace will come with time.

“Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner” -Max Lucado

For a lot of you reading this, there was only one situation or person on your mind as you found yourself nodding along; maybe you’re game to put it all in the past, or maybe you’re telling yourself you’re just not ready yet. Regardless of where you are on the spectrum, let go.  If you can’t convince yourself to do it for the other person, you can always do it for yourself. You might never decide that you’re fully ready, but you’ll never stop the momentum if you can’t first let go of the rope. As for me, I’m still swinging along with the momentum, but you know what? There are starting to be some moments when I barely hear the bell at all. 

~A~