Have you ever said the wrong thing at the wrong time and gasped in your own head as you realized your words were taken in the worst possible way and caused hurt in the person you are speaking to? No? Well I have. Unfortunately I do this more frequently than I want to admit, and I have had to ask for forgiveness numerous times for my lack of planning out the verbalization of my thoughts – regretting immediately and thinking to myself, “If I only had used different or more acceptable words – those that would not have caused pain.”
Socially I can be very much like the bull in the china shop, moving about without forethought as to what I might encounter along the way to explaining my opinion – which opinion is most probably totally unnecessary to be heard in the first place.
This is where Christ-like forgiveness is so very much appreciated. Those around me obviously realize this horrible defect in my social graces (or my lack thereof) and through sweet forgiveness of my follies have not dumped me from their circle of friends or ousted me from committees. This issue appears to have gotten worse as I age but, now that I am considering it, it may be more problematic because I have retired and now see more people socially than when I worked.
Whatever the answer, I am forever thankful that my circle of Christian friends are very generous with their forgiveness. And I am sure this is how we are to show the love of Jesus, aren’t we? If I am hurt by anyone I have to assume it was not intentional and so immediately forgive anything I felt caused me pain. It is not that whatever was said was aimed to harm me, it surely was accidentally put in front of me – somewhat like when my husband Neil and I walk together and I have accidentally kicked a stone into his path. I have no intention of tripping my husband, but still that could be the result.
I wonder is this just a phenomenon among Christians because we understand that we are to forgive as Christ has forgiven us? I do believe it is. When I have spoken to friends and acquaintances who do not follow the teachings of Jesus (be they churchgoers or not), it seems some have tremendous hurt and pain that has rubbed raw a place in their hearts over so many years that it has permanently damaged them. They will not forgive, and some even declare these words with a vengeance, as if it were a well-thought-out action – and it is not. There are numerous studies that show unforgiveness damages the unforgiver much more than the other party – who may not even know they have been on the “unforgiven list” for years.
I have never read in any of the studies I have seen quoted that this idea of forgiveness comes to us from the Bible – God’s Holy Scriptures. Of course, in the medical and mental health fields today it most likely will not strengthen the writer’s credentials to state that Christ’s way is the best way. I doubt that this will be declared in the medical journals anytime soon, but we should give credit where credit is due – to our Lord.
So many of Jesus’ teachings improve our lives if we but follow them. Charity is one. When we acknowledge that to give is better than to receive we reap the blessings of both doing charitable work and following Christ’s teaching. We are told that as Jesus’ disciples we are to do as Jesus did while He was on Earth with us – we are to be His physical hands and feet doing good works such as visiting in hospitals and prisons, feeding and clothing the hungry and destitute, etc., in His name. As Christians and followers of Jesus this is our job description.
There is likely not a soul that will tell you he has not been blessed by handing out food to the hungry or working as a volunteer in a hospital. This is true for non-Christians as well as Christians – we are all benefiting from the teachings of Jesus whether we acknowledge and follow Him as Savior or not.
The difference in being a follower of Jesus and doing His good works is that we are gifted with an inner peace and joy that cannot be found anywhere else. We do good works because we love Jesus. It is the joy of the promise of eternal life with the One that we love and His assurance that we are forgiven. What a wonderful blessing it is to know when we have severely erred that we are forgiven.
Editor’s note: Amy Patsch writes from Ocean City. Email her at writerGoodGod@gmail.com.
