How To Forgive

(WOW)

 

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking
in the woods.  As he thought about his life this day, he knew many
things were not right.  He thought about those who had lied about him
back when he had a job.

 

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated
him.

 

He remembered family that had passed on.  His mind turned to the
illness he had that no one could cure.  His very soul was filled with
anger, resentment and frustration.

 

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find,
knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak
tree to seek the one he knew would always be there.  And with tears
in his eyes, he prayed:

 

"Lord,

 

You have done wonderful things for me in this life.  You have told me
to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed.  Today, you have
told me to forgive.  I am sad, Lord, because I cannot.  I don't know
how.  It is not fair Lord.  I didn't deserve these wrongs that were
done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.  As perfect as your
way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to
forgive.  My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I
pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do---teach me To
Forgive."

 

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt
something fall onto his shoulder.  He opened his eyes.  Out of the
corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.

 

He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had
been was a large square piece of wood in the ground.  He raised his
head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through
them.

 

He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus
hanging on a cross.  He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side,
a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head.  Finally he
saw the suffering and pain on His precious face.  As their eyes met,
the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

 

"Have you ever told a lie?" He asked.

 

The man answered, "Yes, Lord."

 

"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?"

 

The man answered, "Yes. Lord."  And the man sobbed more and more.

 

"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?" Jesus
asked.

 

And the man answered, "Yes, Lord."

 

The man, crying now, answered, "Yes, Lord."

 

As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever. . . .  ?" the man's
crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer, "Yes, Lord."

 

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man
felt something fall on his other shoulder.  He looked and saw that it
was the blood of Jesus.  When he looked back up, his eyes met those
of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or
known before.

 

Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."

 

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but
when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.

 

Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.

 

If God brings you to it--He will bring you through it.

Lord I love You and I need You,

come into my heart, today.

For without You I can do nothing.