Several weeks ago, I remember writing about the word ‘compassion’ and asking just what that particular word meant to you.

Well, this past week another word seems to have claimed my attention. It is ‘forgiveness’.

You might wonder just why that particular word has claimed my interest and I’m not quite sure I can explain. First, let me say that it was a topic of discussion in two different study groups I have attended.

Secondly, I have found the concept coming up more often usual when in conversation with family and friends.

And lastly, because after one of my study groups in which we discussed in great detail the idea of ‘forgiveness’, I came home, opened one of my devotionals and began to read. And guess what…the topic was ‘forgiveness’.

I’m not sure if that is something that I myself need to work on. I don’t find myself harboring grudges and animosity towards anyone, but I think perhaps I do sometimes take the gift of God’s forgiveness without a proper attitude of thankfulness.

In discussing this idea with a friend, we both found ourselves in agreement that forgiving someone didn’t mean condoning an act that was unkind, sneaky, or in anyway caused us hurt and pain.

But it did mean that we were able to stop dwelling on that action that caused the hurt. We could forgive and move on. We could stop dwelling and rehashing the incident and decide it was over and we were no longer going to dwell on it.

When we continually dredge up past hurts and things that have angered and frustrated us, I honestly believe it is more hurtful to us than the other party. Carrying such animosity and sometimes hate does cause problems in our own lives. In fact, it can even cause us to be ill and it certainly interferes with our view of life.

To move past disagreements and hurts isn’t always the easiest thing in this world.

It takes a promise to ourselves that we will no longer allow this incident or event to keep invading our peace of mind. We will just ‘let it go’.

Having said all this, I will tell you that I know that I am neither a therapist nor a counselor. I’ve just given my opinion. I’ve found ‘letting go and letting God’ helps me find peace in my life.

Now I’d like to share one of the things I read pertaining to ‘forgiveness’. I’m sure most everyone remembers sometime in their life reading or hearing about Clara Barton. I’d say I first heard that name years ago when I was in school.

I think of her as a woman who contributed so much to the world in which she lived and worked in spite of obstacles placed in her way.

If you remember, she served in a medical capacity during the Civil War. In fact she became known as the “Angel of the Battlefield”

When her doctor finally insisted she rest, she traveled to Switzerland and while there became aware of the Swiss Red Cross. So, when she returned, she became the founder of the American Red Cross.

This one woman ministered to people in many, many places in our world. And what is so amazing to me is that she did it in a time when most women’s activities were related to ‘home’ and they were not active in public or national ‘ decisions and actions’.

So according to what I read she was very often patronized, ignored, and perhaps even worse. But, she continued her work and living in a way that brought comfort and help to many people.

The book I read suggested that while she carried many burdens as she sought to help others, one thing she never carried was ‘resentment’.

When we cannot forgive others, what really erodes our sense of well-being is often ‘resentment’. It seems to pollute and taint our thoughts and actions. If we can only ‘let it go’ and move on, our lives are much happier.

I am not saying that the person who hurt you becomes a dear friend even though that is a possibility. What I am trying to say is holding on to bitterness and anger ‘hurts’ you. Leaving it go gives you ‘freedom’ to move ahead.

I think I’ll close with something else I read about Clara Barton. She was asked if she wasn’t angry because of all the obstacles and put-downs she had received.

Her reply might be one we could all benefit by using. She said, “I distinctly remember forgetting that.”

Her recommendation was to let it go and turn all that wasted energy into what the future might hold.

Our Bible has many verses reminding us of God’s great love and His willingness to forgive us. And if we are honest, we know that we need this amazing gift.

I’m going to close with just two of those scriptures. First from Matthew, “If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you.”

And lastly, in the prayer that Jesus taught, he said, “Forgive us our sins (trespasses) as we forgive them that sin (trespass) against us.

We have probably all done something for which we should apologize and when we do, we hope the other person accepts our apology. And, in a like manner, we, sometime in our life, are going to have to forgive others. That may not mean having a close relationship, but it means you will let the bitterness and anger go so that your life will be enriched and instead of having that ‘weight’ in your heart, you are ‘free’.

As a commercial of old used to say…’try it, you might like it’. Forgiveness works wonders in our lives.