Hi everyone, how are you doing? I hope you're doing great. 🌷🌸 Reading through this week's Ladies Of Hive Community Contest got me interested. It says:
"If forgiveness is especially beneficial for those who are able to let go of past grudges, the invitation to reflect upon is: Do we always have to forgive? Why forgive someone who doesn't deserve forgiveness? Should we always forgive? Share your thoughts."
After reading it, it brought back memories of when I forgave my Aunt.
For me, forgiveness is hard especially if the person deeply hurts you, like it was cut deep. It didn't seem fair to forgive if you hurt so badly. But if we remember what God said about forgiveness,
"not up to seven times, but up to 77 times." — Matthew 18:22
Should we count someone's mistakes or keep their score when hurt? Nope! This doesn't mean there's a specific numerical limit to forgiveness but rather emphasizes that forgiveness should be limitless. When my aunt and I had a misunderstanding, it left things strained between us. I kept ignoring her, even her calls and messages. I knew it was making her sad and hurt, but the pain still lingered every time I saw her, like it was an open wound. One day, she reached out and asked me to come to her house. She wanted to talk about what had happened. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I decided to go. When I arrived at her house, she had prepared a snack — her way of making things a bit more comfortable, maybe. We both sat down, and she opened up about how she felt hurt by my silence. I shared my side too — how I'd felt and why I'd pulled away. As we talked things through, the misunderstanding got cleared up. We both realized it was a mix of miscommunications. When the talk ended, I stood up, opened my arms, and we hugged. We forgave each other for the hurt caused, and in that hug, things felt better.
Now, what did this experience teach me? That holding onto grudges wasn't doing you any favors. It was leading to stress and sadness, weighing down your heart. Instead, learn to forgive. To let go of the hurt and anger. It was beneficial for both you and the other person. When you forgive, you don't have grudges. Your heart felt lighter, happier. But, how about those
"who doesn't deserve forgiveness,"
as per the question? For me, rather than deciding if someone "deserves" forgiveness, let's just focus on the act of letting go of hurt and anger towards someone who's wronged you. In the end, we're all human and make mistakes. Do you think you deserve forgiveness from others? You totally do! Practicing forgiveness as God wants us to do, can cultivate happier lives. It can lead us to peace and contentment. Instead of tying yourself to the negative emotions, why not learn to forgive? If I didn't go to my Aunt's house, I didn't feel lighter, and the weight didn't get lifted. And more importantly, maybe it didn't mend our relationship. Until my next experience... Thanks for the visit! Have a lovely day. Buh-bye. 💗🌸
