DO WE REALLY FORGIVE?

After relishing some events in times past, I started pondering on 'forgiveness', it’s a topic I’ve prided myself in being so conversant with, in thoughts, words and deeds, but right now, i'm in doubt, do I really understand it like I thought I did?.

I’ve seen people say “I have forgiven her, but I don’t think we can be friends anymore”, I have heard my own voice echo those same words, maybe paraphrased, but today I excogitate and ask myself, did forgiveness really take place?  If it did, at what point did it take place. Where in-between not caring (about the person), and getting along like before can forgiveness really be found, where in-between oblivion (towards the person) and care lies the forgiveness.

I try to think about the Man in whose footsteps I walk today, the Man whom I imitate, I dwell on my relationship with the Cross-bearer, I’ve stumbled countless times, but when I go back, He forgives me, even when I don’t notice that I’ve strayed from the right path, He draws my attention to it. I know He truly does forgive me because I feel it, I sense the peace and love that flows in the blood and water gushing on me. He forgives and holds it no more against me. He acts like nothing happened, he pretends like I didn’t just drive in those nails deeper into his hands again. If he forgives like we do, wouldn’t our relationship with him be strained forever?  Did we really forgive? Did I really forgive? DO WE REALLY FORGIVE? Even when I finish this text, I may still not have found an answer to my question

PEOPLE are definitely going to hurt PEOPLE, PEOPLE will definitely hurt YOU, YOU will definitely hurt YOU and YOU will definitely hurt PEOPLE. Finding a place in your heart to acknowledge the hurt and let go of it is what really makes life beautiful and PEACEFUL. Amnesia may not be possible, we will definitely remember what has been done, but remembering them with a shrug on our shoulders and a smile on our faces shows that we have truly conquered hate. I think those who hurt us including ourselves eventually realize it and pay for it in one way or the other, I think sometimes, even those walls of ice round those hearts eventually melt and life returns back to those hearts and they bleed. Even if they don’t break or melt, I think someone already paid for those offences, Calvary already did collect enough blood for that hurt. Making THEM pay again, making yourself pay again, putting them on trial again, restraining yourself behind the dock for a case that has been heard and concluded with a “GUILTY BUT ACQUITTED” isn’t even possible, it is called DOUBLE JEOPARDY.

May our weekend be filled with peace as we go about doing good.