Lush
The theme of forgiveness appeared three times during my day yesterday.
Yesterday I went to one of my favorite stores, Lush, and bought shower gel. It is named “The Olive Branch.” Extending the olive branch is a saying that is based in Genesis after the flood and means extending peace, reconciliation and forgiveness.
Yesterday I told someone I was sorry for something I said and did. It was hard to get the words out but necessary.
Yesterday I was studying for my new Sunday Bible class that I’m leading based on Duck Dynasty. This is not trivial stuff. It’s very well done and very applicable to life today. Chapter two is called “Radical Forgiveness.” Through forgiveness we are able to better live in peace.
The Duck Dynasty family speaks of some important truths about forgiveness: They teach that it isn’t an act of weakness as it takes strength and courage to trust someone again and give them a second chance. "God certainly isn’t weak and God does that for us every day.“
The study says that, "Forgiveness, by definition, is letting go of the desire to make the other person pay for an action that wronged us and caused us significant hurt. Forgiveness is saying no to revenge…..If you really want to learn to forgive, quit focusing on what people have done to you. Put your mind on what God has done for you…Forgiveness is a skill that you’ll get better at with practice.”
At the end of the lesson they give a good visual activity for practicing forgiveness by “picturing in your mind a heap of junk that represents the bad things a person has done to you and the qualities this person has that bother you. You might even stand and hold your arms like you’re holding this big load of junk. Then tell the Lord you’re giving all the junk to him and lift your arms up or turn your hands over. Drop the junk. Let it fall or float away. It’s the Lord’s problem, not yours anymore. Tell the Lord you’re going to let him be in charge of justice on this one. And if he wants to have mercy, instead of giving this person what they deserve, you’re okay with that, because you’ve received mercy. It’s God’s call.” There is so much more I could share that is so good in this lesson.
This is next week’s lesson. This week’s is on Redonkulous Faith. I encourage you to attend if you are near Brownsburg. It will happen at 9:45am Sundays starting tomorrow. If you are not nearby then see if you can get a copy of “Faith Commander: Living Five Values from the Parables of Jesus.” Great and important stuff!
May God enable us all to forgive and also to accept people’s “I’m sorry’s.”
Hope
