Forgive and forget or..........

forgive and always remember. Tricky isn't it. Forgiveness is a hard thing to do in life. It is hard to ask for it and it is hard to give it. Especially to people who have hurt you. You may say you forgive and you forget, but you never do. I bring this up because last night I was at Dickmann's for volleyball and there was a benefit going on for that young kid from Scott High School that was beaten to death outside of a bar couple of weeks ago. My friends and I were talking how as parents do you forgive someone who has beat your child to death, how as people do you forgive people that cause you pain and heartache.

It was a very interesting conversation. We all know as Christians we are suppose to forgive because that is what God tells us to do.

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

But do we have to forget? Will the pain go away completely? Who knows but we know we must forgive to please God. Forgiving someone is letting go of all that pain and hurt, it is letting go of those thoughts of vengefulness, it is letting go and allowing God to take care of it. It is trusting him to cause that "pain" to those people who hurt you or your family.

Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

That is so difficult to do. Because I am sure those parents and any of us who have been hurt want nothing more than to see a person pay, to see them hurt as much as you, but to be true followers of Christ, we must learn to forgive and put all of it behind us. I know easier said than done. No one says forgiveness happens overnight - it may take months or years and years, but one day those parents will be able to wake up and say I forgive them, because I know my son is okay and I know the ones who caused harm will have their justice one day. It is something we all strive for each and every day to forgive people and some to even ask for forgiveness. And if you do forgive it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to allow those people who hurt you back in your life. It is just allowing you to let go of the anger, the hurt, and all of those feelings that are holding you down, that are not allowing you to live your life.

The parents may some day be able to forgive those who took their child away but they will never forget.

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HAPPY BELATED B-DAY TO UNCLE TOM - I hope you had a wonderful day. Hugs and Kisses XXOOXX