Many years ago when I was young, I had to wear shoes that had a hole in the right sole of the shoe. It was very uncomfortable walking when the bottom of your foot touched the ground. And doesn’t take long to wear a hole in your sock when you walk a distance. Then I had an idea. I put a piece of cardboard inside the shoe over the hole. That was a bit uncomfortable and it didn’t take long for the cardboard to wear through and I could feel the ground on my foot again.
Reflecting back, Holy Spirit began to let me see that’s how not forgiving someone is. Each step you take without forgiving someone wears on your emotional life. You begin to feel discomfort from the root of bitterness that wears its way into your heart. That’s how unforgiveness manifests.
Though an individual may attempt to mask their unforgiveness by trying to self-justify their reason for feeling the way they do, the bitterness continues to wear through, reaching to the bottom of their love, their joy, and their peace.
Romans 3:23-24 NLT
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”
Life for the believer/receiver in Jesus is to be lived with purpose at its center. Why waste life living with bitterness and unforgiveness.
My mother did buy me a new pair of shoes when she got paid. But my worn-out shoes taught me a valuable lesson in life: When what you have heard still hurts, become more than what you are feeling.”
Forgive them, acquit them, pardon them. Let the offender off the hook. Choose to continue walking in love and honor others.
Love You My Friends.
Tony Sweet