Teach me to forgive
Posted by: carolinawildfire <carolinawildfire@...>
One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with
grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about
his life this day, he knew many things were not right.
He thought about those who had lied about him back
when he had a job. His thoughts turned to those who
had stolen his things and cheated him.
He remembered family that had passed on.
His mind turned to the illness he had that no one
could cure.
His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and
frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he
could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he
knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one
he knew would always be
there, and with tears in his eyes, he prayed "Lord-
You have done wonderful things for me in this life.
You have told me to do many things for you, and I
happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I
am sad, Lord, because I cannot.
I don't know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn't
deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I
shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is
Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how
to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not
hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one
thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive.
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak
tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He
opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw
something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see
what it was because where the oak tree had been was a
large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised
his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a
large spike through them. He raised his head more, and
tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a
cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side,
a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His
head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His
precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears
turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.
Have you ever told a lie, he asked?
The man answered - yes Lord.
Have you ever been given to much change and kept it?
The man answered yes Lord. And the man sobbed more and
more.
Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't
yours, Jesus asked?
And the man answered yes Lord.
Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?
The man, crying now, answered yes Lord.
As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The
man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only
answer yes Lord.
Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other,
and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder.
He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When
he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and
there was a look of love the man had never seen or
known before.
Jesus said, I didn't deserve this either, but I
forgive you
Author Unknown
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