Need Peace? Forgive.
Mother’s Day is passed as far as the commercialized Mother’s Day is concerned. But, honestly, it’s okay for our mothers to be honored every single day. What a role model my mama was and still is today, 18 years past going to heaven.
Yesterday, for a video presentation to her students, my daughter interviewed me via a zoom call. She asked me about how my mother played a significant role in my life. I didn’t hesitate to speak about how she lived out her faith. She emulated faith in action as my dad was very ill and she carried the load of caring for him and me. She loved us both unconditionally. Fast forward to my husband’s illness, and I became her. Her modeling what faith looked like in tough times, showed me what to do.
And, even in forgiving others, she showed me how. I’ll never forget the night when my mom consented for me to drive her car and take a friend with me to my high school’s football game. And I’ll never forget how I was so busy talking with my friend that I ran into the back of another car, causing significant damage to both.
It was penalty enough for me to see my mother’s new burdens of dealing with auto repairs for the other driver’s vehicle and ours, in addition to the burdens of caring for dad and me. I don’t remember Mom ever reproving me or being angry with me. I do remember her forgiving me before I ever asked for forgiveness.
That story reminds me of the love of the father of the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance, yet when his father sees him coming down the road to home, he embraces him and kisses his lost son. No greater forgiver was Jesus, Who after the lies, beatings, denials and pain, said: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
In the Bible, “forgive” is on the lips of Jesus 43 times. Forgiveness was a gift Jesus was happy to give. Jesus gave forgiveness as a gift to people who didn’t do anything to earn it and to others who didn’t seem to deserve it. Jesus still does that today. Forgiveness is the trademark of Christians – or at least it should be. I put myself on the line every time I say the Lord’s Prayer: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
There are so many wrongs in this world that are grossly unfair, brutal, and reprehensible on what might have been done to us. For me to speak about forgiveness when I don’t know what was done to you seems ludicrous. But it’s not me speaking. It is our loving Heavenly Father who put His Son front and center on the stage of “This is what forgiveness looks like!”
The Apostle Paul said, “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:32) Sure seems like a tall order, but one that comes with sweet rewards. We can move on with our lives, have freedom from the pain of the past and enjoy greater happiness in the present.
That kind of love says: “You are forgiven!” We may not forget, but we are at least free from the burden of unforgiveness. It’s not that we dismiss the pain, but it does mean we recognize that even our greatest wounds and deepest pain will one day be transformed into beauty by our God who wastes nothing.