FORGIVENESS

There is only one way that I, personally, can write about the final step of recovery which is “forgiveness.” That is to write about it from a Christian perspective. This is because it is my belief that the only way that I can truly forgive someone of their wrong-doing is to first embrace my own personal need for forgiveness - a key “concept” in Christianity. There may, indeed, be another way to internalize forgiveness - but the only way that I understand it - is as a believer in Jesus Christ.

So many volumes of books have been written on this subject that you could probably fill up hundreds and hundreds of libraries around the world and still not house them all. I am going to try to summarize what I believe forgiveness to be and how best to open your heart to its healing powers in the next few paragraphs. But, by all means, continue your search and study of this subject - the below words are just a brief beginning.

It is my belief that there is, indeed a God, who created all of life - all of the universe. And that this God, who created all of us humans, loves us more than we can ever comprehend. I also believe that God is a whole lot smarter than we are and that he gave us some “laws” to follow so that we could live in joy and peace.

I believe that we humans don't do a very good job of following Gods laws.

It is the Christian belief that all humans have, in fact, fallen short in trying to obey these laws - that no human has lived up to God’s standard for us, His children - and that all humans were/are doomed to eternal punishment. To personalize this for a moment let me say that "I" have not lived up to God's standard and that "I" am doomed to punishment and "I" am in desperate need of God’s forgiveness. This concept is very important to grasp.

I, indeed, have done or thought wrong things and I am in need of God’s forgiveness.

Furthermore, I believe that a price had to be paid for my wrongdoing - in order that God remain a “just” God. And that out of God’s abounding love for me he sent his son - Jesus Christ - to die upon a cross, rise to life again, and pay the price for my wrongdoing.

TO FORGIVE OTHERS

Because I know that I have fallen short of God's standard and am in need of forgiveness and that forgiveness has been given to me by God through Christ - freely - and that the living God now lives in my heart - then I, too, by God’s power, am able to forgive someone of something that they have no right to be forgiven for.

Whatever wrong or wrongs have been done to you and me - no matter how great or small - can be forgiven - because your wrongs - and mine - have likewise been forgiven.

This is not to say that all murderers should be let out of jail. If you have broken a law of the government you need to pay the price that the government has said is just. Also, sometimes those convicted of atrocious crimes will commit them again and again and most certainly God wants for our safety, so it would be foolish to say “just let them out.” However, it is, by God’s power, possible to forgive someone of a terrible crime - even against us - and at the same time say that they, for the sake of human safety, need to stay behind bars.

In a nutshell we can forgive because we have been forgiven.

This is not an easy concept or Truth to grasp. Christians would say that the ability “to forgive” is a gift from God. They would also say that if you seek God you will find God and God will become for you, in you and through you "the power to forgive" - what you alone cannot forgive.

Whew. That’s a lot to grasp. Don’t be discouraged, it can take time to “comprehend” forgiveness - how it has been granted and our need to grant forgiveness to others. Even life long Christians have a struggle when they need to truly “forgive” - not just say the words - but truly forgive someone in their heart.

If there is someone that you need to forgive, ask God for help. You most surely will get it. And someday you will know the freedom that comes only from forgiving the ones who have wronged you.