To Forgive

This issue of forgiving seems to be a recurring issue in my life. Even if my part of an issue is only 1%, it is still my 1% and that is what I need to deal with. I look at the way Barbara and I were raised, we have some hurts from long ago. I think I recently touched on it in a couple of blogs. 1% and COGOP. Hurts were revealed. Writing is like looking in a mirror and seeing what is really in your heart. I don't always like what I see. Understand that when I write these blogs I am opening up what is inside of me, my heart. What is inside of me comes out of my mouth or in this blog, the things I write. They are a mirror for me. The issue of forgiving others is a repeating theme. I see it over and over again. If we do not forgive others, neither will our Heavenly Father forgive us our trespasses, our sins. It is a core value, it is necessary to be a Christian to develop a forgiving spirit. Some things are hard to forgive and we need God's help just to forgive. It does not come naturally. Naturally is to seek revenge or retaliation for perceived wrongs. You owe me and I want to be paid.  When someone wrongs us, they owe us something. There is a debt that needs to be forgiven. Probably every Christian alive has encountered something that is hard to forgive. Sometimes they may be hidden so deep inside our hearts over the years that have past. I see it in families all the time, those that are closest to us can hurt us deeply. Sometimes we may not even be aware of the hurt that we caused. There are times when I am thankful when God puts his spotlight on an issue.  But to forgive is an absolute necessity in Christian life. It is a core value. When an issue is raised, we need to deal with it. Help me Lord to forgive, where I have been hurt. The debt is paid in full. No one owes me anything, that is the attitude I want to develop. Another friend went to eternity, just overlook it, let it go, was a common word he gave to his family. He was a Christian. He didn't impact thousands, just his family. It showed in the life he lived. Life is so short and more and more my age is getting closer to the age of those leaving here for eternity. To forgive is a constant issue in life. My hope is in the next life, and I know being able to forgive is needed to make that a reality someday. God help me to forgive. God bless, LVZ.