A Gift You Give Yourself

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

─ Luke 23:34

“I don’t want to forgive him,” Colton said honestly, his voice hot with anger.

“Your brother said he was sorry,” Tina coaxed her older son.

“Well, he’s not really sorry.” Colton argued. “He’s only saying it so I’ll let him off the hook for it.”

“But we forgive because it sets us free,” Tina reminded him.

“Yeah, well, I’m not ready,” Colton said as he stormed up the stairs to his bedroom.

Few things cut deeper into our souls than when someone we love hurts our feelings. The gift of forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. It may feel like choosing to forgive is a special favor to the one who wronged us, but letting it go actually releases us.

Through forgiveness, we are not justifying what they’ve done, and it doesn’t mean a restored relationship with the one who hurt us. Forgiveness isn’t something that happens between us and another person, but something that happens within us.

It is a quiet, personal transformation of the heart. Forgiving someone else allows healing to come to the wound we carry.

Today’s One Thing

Is there someone you need to forgive today to set yourself free?

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