Forgiven?
It's become a ritual for me. Once a year I go
through the closet in my mind and force myself
to be "forgiven."
I guess that sounds like I've done a lot of bad
things in my life. Well, some. But mostly I deal
with bad memories of things I've done. Let me explain.
There are things in our lives that we say or do
that perhaps at some level we regret. The ones
we deal with immediately often times get buried
or forgotten completely because we deal with
them emotionally and maybe even ask for
forgiveness right then and there.
But there are issues in many lives that never go
away. Little hurtful actions on our part that are
sometimes triggered by current events. Days
when we are depressed or disappointed in the
way things are going in our lives we methodically
return to that mental file we keep handy. You
know, the one you call upon every time you
criticize yourself and subconsciously re-enforce
the negative image that holds you back.
"Boy, am I stupid!" "I'm just no good at this!"
"I'm such a klutz!" "If it wasn't for bad luck,
I'd have no luck at all!"
Sound familiar? Most of us do it everyday.
But yesterday was my day of redemption. I normally
hang an American flag in front of my home. It's
up through most of the good weather months,
not just on national holidays. In fact, I wear them
out as they become faded and torn. I need a new
one this year. I'm proud to be an American. Don't
get me started on that. I'll have to pull out the soap
box and sing "God Bless America!"
But on this special day I hang a flag that I struggle
with. It is my Easter flag that bears a Golden Cross
and the word "Forgiven" on it.
The first time I placed it in the holder I couldn't look
up at the passing cars. In my mind, every person
I've ever done wrong or hurt in some way, was
driving by at that moment. I could hear them say,
"Who does he think he is? I haven't forgiven him!"
The odd thing is for weeks afterwards people
asked us where they could get one. They too
wanted the world to know that they were forgiven
also.
This year, as I prepared the flag, I carried with
it all of my negative images. I mentally wrapped
them inside and as the flag unfurled I saw them
blow away in the wind.
The wind that took them away, I believe, is the last
breath of Jesus Christ as He died upon the cross
so that I could hang that flag with my head held
high this year.
Some people may not have yet forgiven me. But
the One who matters did.
"I believe in YOU!"
Bob
My Challenge to You... No matter what faith you
have or don't, I believe that there is an element
of forgiving and being forgiven in every human
spirit. They say that forgiving frees the forgiver.
Take a sheet of paper and write the word
"Forgiven" on it. Sit for a time and hold it in your
hands. Think about what that means and then
accept it. What is it that you feel at that moment?
If you cannot forgive yourself, then you know what
is holding you back from happiness and life itself.
If you are confident enough, place it where you
and all of your family, perhaps even your co-workers
can see it. Hang it in a window for all the world
to see.
Or even more powerful, send it to someone you
have never forgiven and set yourself free.
"I wish you enough!"
J
~ Bob Perks ~
Good news - Bob Perks' first book, "I Wish You Enough," Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments... is now available for ordering. Here's the "Link"
to get your copy of Bob's book: I Wish You Enough from Amazon.com.
[ by: Bob Perks
Copyright © 2011 (2believe@comcast.net) -- {used with permission} ]
Inspirational Stories
SkyWriting.Net
All Rights Reserved.
|