Forgiveness

Anne Lamott, in Traveling Mercies says, “Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.” I’ve heard various versions of this saying over the years with various different vices.

It always makes me chuckle (at least inside) before the sobering truth settles in. Too often we make rifts in relationships about the other person. While it’s probably true there is fault and blame to be placed on the other, at some point we have to realize we cannot control him/her. We can only control our response.

Forgiveness in all its fullness in found in Jesus – the ability to forgive ourselves and the ability to forgive others. Forgiveness is not earned. It is given by grace, at least that’s how it work from God toward us. I believe he wants us to do the same to each other.