Forgiveness
My poor neglected blog spoke to me in the night and asked me to tell you something.
I have on my mind three separate situations that I have experienced where there has come a gap or breech between me and someone else who I was previously close to, and these sad breeches are largely because of my mistakes. I am not pleased with this at all. I am generally happiest when those in my life are happy with me.
Recently I visited someone who has a coral growing operation in his backyard. In a large tank he simulates the proper conditions for coral to grow, and patiently waits for it to grow. He then sells it for a small profit. The profit part of the operation wasn’t going too well, but that’s beside the point.
I actually got an interesting illustration from that tank. Forgiveness and trust takes time to grow. Sometimes the best you can do is to simulate the conditions necessary for that to happen, and then trust the Lord for the rest.
When it comes to sensitive matters or matters of the heart, I have found that there are some times when less is more, and not rehashing things is much better than bringing out all the dirty laundry and examining it to figure out the source of the smell. It doesn’t clean the laundry, and all of it needs to be washed, so you’re better off skipping that step.
That’s not to say that there aren’t a good many problems that are solved by simple, honest communication, but there is such a thing as over talking an issue, to the point that you just bring up new issues. So, in that case, you just have to have the faith that, if you keep the love out there, forgiveness and trust will grow. It is not always an instant thing, even when you really love someone.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Well said Maria, I think you hit the nail on the head..been there…many times..I think sometimes its hard to keep the love out there though, as even when you have blown it big time, its hard to face the rejection that can sometimes come from the one you really love and accidentally hurt, but I agree that its always best to keep extending the hand of friendship.
Forgiveness is a very interesting topic though, as there are always 2 sides to everything–I think at times its easy for the one who was hurt to feel that they are the “victim” and deserve your appology–but I have often found, that many times ,especially when the issue was of a sensitive nature or matter of the heart, the other party feels just as hurt and could use an apology as well…just putting that out there…for whatever its worth..
November 30th, 2009 at 9:18 am
It’s worth a lot, Mish. It’s so true that on sensitive topics, both sides need reconciliation a lot of the time. Very good insight.