As we look at forgiveness as one of the 7 key characterisitics of a loving person, I can’t help but think of how forgiveness can change the world. I don’t know how often I have been in a store and have had someone bump into me and there is no acknowledgement on their part even to ask for forgiveness. Especially in foreign countries, and particularly in large cities, manners kind of go out the window. It is pretty much every man for himself….hold your ground, and stake your claim. Being the kind of person I am, I will say I’m sorry whether I was the one who accidentally bumped someone or not. One thing we have done with our kids when it comes to forgiveness is this. First you say you are sorry, then you ask the person, “Will you forgive me?” Because this isn’t standard practice in many homes, when the question is asked, “Will you forgive me?”, often the person doesn’t know how to respond. In our minds, as parents, we think this helps to solidify in our kids that forgiveness isn’t just a sloppy, “I’m sorry”, with the tone, “I’m sorry I got caught”, but it really is an act of forgiveness, and true repentance. How are you at asking, will you forgive me? There are so many times when we have the opportunity to show that we love, by being the first to ask for forgiveness. How hard is that to do? For some people it is excruciating. For others, it comes easily, because they have chosen to walk in love, cover things in love, and let the love of God on the inside of them really be authentic. So this week, why not do a forgiveness check. Are there things holding you in bondage because you have not forgiving someone? Do you want the chains of unforgiveness wrapped around your life? Or do you want to be released and have the opportunity for reconciliation. Let’s be lovers – with God’s kind of love – and forgive.
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