23-03-2005, 09:41 AM
I'll fastforward a little bit.....
You see, despite the dark cloud in my sould that darkened the breakfast sunshine that morning with Bob, I really was learning to fill my cup with forgiveness. And when I read that difficult question from the jar. I felt some pain, but I did have an anwer.
What would I do if I could spend a day with my dad?
First of all, I would take his hand, and we would walk and talk. "Remember, daddy?" I would say, and we would reminisce about when I was a little girl. "Remember the times you would set me up on the counter next to you while you worked? Remember when you'd take me through those big doors into the kitchens full of those great, shining pots and pans?" I always felt so proud when my daddy would introduce me to the chefs as his little girl. I always felt so safe when he held my hand.
"And, oh daddy, I'm so sorry!" I'd tell my dad if I could spend a day with him. "I'm sorry for all the terrible things that happened to you, all the things that hurt you and made you the way you were." And I'd say, " Daddy, I know why you drank. I know why you were full of fury. You had so much pain in your heart, in your cup - from being abondoned when your parents died and being raised in the kitchen in the palace of Vienna. And you have so much pain from being a Jew in Nazi-occupied Austria, and having to change your name to escape, and fighting in the ward and being shot three times."
If I could spend a day with my dad, I would't want to deny the pain that he caused me. It was real, and I've learned that denying real pain hinders forgiveness instead of helping it. But I would also want to tell my dad that I love him.
And more than anything else, I would want to tell my dad that we have a heavenly Father who can cover the hurt and pain and take it from us. I would want him to know, more than anything else, my dearest friend, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, the One who said "Forgive, and you will be forgine" (Luke 6:37)
Forgiveness works, even when you can't tell it's working. Even when you don't feel forgiven or don't feel forgiving.
And forgiveness works no matter what the forgiveness issues are in your life.
Perhaps your spouse has been unfaithful or your son has adopted a lifestyle you cannot approve. perhaps a friend has said something cruel behind your back or a colleague has attacked you publicly. Perhaps you are struggling with ongoing bitterness over somthing that happned years ago.
Or perhaps you need forgiveness for yourself. Perhaps you are overwhelmed with guilt or simply miserable because a relationship has been ruptured. Perhaps you are furious with yourself over a thoughtless remark, or you are beginning to be convicted of a hidden sin that you from fellowship with God.
Whatever in your life is causing you pain, you don't need to let resentment fill your cup. Above all, you don't need tohold on the the bitter brew.
:hartlik:
You see, despite the dark cloud in my sould that darkened the breakfast sunshine that morning with Bob, I really was learning to fill my cup with forgiveness. And when I read that difficult question from the jar. I felt some pain, but I did have an anwer.
What would I do if I could spend a day with my dad?
First of all, I would take his hand, and we would walk and talk. "Remember, daddy?" I would say, and we would reminisce about when I was a little girl. "Remember the times you would set me up on the counter next to you while you worked? Remember when you'd take me through those big doors into the kitchens full of those great, shining pots and pans?" I always felt so proud when my daddy would introduce me to the chefs as his little girl. I always felt so safe when he held my hand.
"And, oh daddy, I'm so sorry!" I'd tell my dad if I could spend a day with him. "I'm sorry for all the terrible things that happened to you, all the things that hurt you and made you the way you were." And I'd say, " Daddy, I know why you drank. I know why you were full of fury. You had so much pain in your heart, in your cup - from being abondoned when your parents died and being raised in the kitchen in the palace of Vienna. And you have so much pain from being a Jew in Nazi-occupied Austria, and having to change your name to escape, and fighting in the ward and being shot three times."
If I could spend a day with my dad, I would't want to deny the pain that he caused me. It was real, and I've learned that denying real pain hinders forgiveness instead of helping it. But I would also want to tell my dad that I love him.
And more than anything else, I would want to tell my dad that we have a heavenly Father who can cover the hurt and pain and take it from us. I would want him to know, more than anything else, my dearest friend, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, the One who said "Forgive, and you will be forgine" (Luke 6:37)
Forgiveness works, even when you can't tell it's working. Even when you don't feel forgiven or don't feel forgiving.
And forgiveness works no matter what the forgiveness issues are in your life.
Perhaps your spouse has been unfaithful or your son has adopted a lifestyle you cannot approve. perhaps a friend has said something cruel behind your back or a colleague has attacked you publicly. Perhaps you are struggling with ongoing bitterness over somthing that happned years ago.
Or perhaps you need forgiveness for yourself. Perhaps you are overwhelmed with guilt or simply miserable because a relationship has been ruptured. Perhaps you are furious with yourself over a thoughtless remark, or you are beginning to be convicted of a hidden sin that you from fellowship with God.
Whatever in your life is causing you pain, you don't need to let resentment fill your cup. Above all, you don't need tohold on the the bitter brew.
:hartlik: