I hate it when it when I
have offended or hurt someone that I love. We all have done this, and had to
come to ask for forgiveness for those times. I remember two times when our
oldest daughter’s birthday came and went without me even acknowledging it had
happened. Twice in consecutive years I had to perform a funeral for a close
family member on her birthday. Each of these years, I was so consumed with the
preparation, and services for these family members that I forgot her birthday.
I realized it both years on the day after her birthday. I apologized over and
over again, but the best part if this horrible story is that she instantly and
completely forgave me each time.

Forgiveness is a wonderful
thing, from both ends of the problem. If you are the offender, it is wonderful
to hear that the person you hurt has forgiven you. As the person offended, it
is a great weight of relief when you can forgive for something done against
you. In either case (asking for forgiveness, and giving forgiveness), it is not
natural. It takes spiritual maturity and depth to ask for forgiveness as well
as to offer forgiveness. How do we learn to do this? How is it possible for
generally self-centered people to humble themselves to make forgiveness happen?

The answer, as always, is
in our Bible. Today I read, “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O
Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mightiest
be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope”
(Psalm 130:3-5). We learn how to forgive from the God of Heaven! The One Who
knows all our sins; even the ones no one else on earth can see or know; and He
offers forgiveness! When you think you have a “righteous” reason for not
forgiving someone, come back to this verse and read it carefully.

If the God Who knows
everything we have done against His holy character can forgive our sins, who
are you to hold a grudge, or guilt over the head of someone who is genuinely
asking for your forgiveness? I know, some of you are thinking that the person
asking is not sincere in their request. I believe it is better to err on the
side of forgiveness, and let them carry the burden of their insincerity. I
always want to err on the side of mercy, rather than judgment. Vengeance is the
Lord, and He will take care of the justice that needs to be given. I am
thankful for God’s forgiveness, and therefore, I want to copy His character and
offer forgiveness completely and quickly to those who have hurt me. I am so
thankful that our daughter forgave me so completely. We still have a laugh as
we talk about those two birthdays!