Forgiveness

A little over a month ago, I received an email that said "A Voice From the Past". I recognized the name as being an old classmate that I went to school with from grades 7th-12th. As I opened and began reading he confirmed that this was indeed my classmate from so long ago. (We graduated 22 years ago)

He told me how his sister had forwarded him an email and he got the link to my blog and had been reading about me and my daughter. He told me about his own belief in Jesus and becoming a Christian in 1985. As I was thoroughly enjoying this unexpected letter, what he said next touched my heart in an unexpectant way. He wrote, "And now, I want to ask you one thing. I was not very nice to you in high school. I talked about you, saying many mean, hurtful things, and I only did it because I thought you hated me. High school was not very easy for me, socially. I was kind of an outcast, and I blamed part of that on you. I know I was wrong, but I was also immature. I should never have said things about you, regardless. So, I ask you to please forgive me. I know I can’t take back or change the past, but just like Jesus’ blood wipes away my sins forever, your forgiveness will erase a lot of hurt.

I hope you find time to ponder all this, and maybe send me a reply sometime. I pray that God will continue to bless you and your family, and draw you all closer to Him so you can serve Him and further His Kingdom."

With tears streaming down my face, I was humbled like never before. Oh the joy I felt in my heart knowing that this boy I had known from so long ago, had become a man of God and was my brother in Christ.

I hurried to write him back saying, "I absolutely forgive you. But you don't owe me an apology. I owe you one. Yes, I was nothing but a snob and a b_ _ _ _. Ooops, I'm not supposed to cuss, but the truth is the truth. I'm sure I had coming anything you might have said - so don't worry about it. I didn't hate you - I just didn't know you, and didn't really care to. I was too busy chasing all the wrong things and having nothing but regrets now because of it. But isn't it wonderful that God has brought us together again and we can love and appreciate each other now, because of Him. That's just so cool! I am sorry for not taking the time to get to know you, for not appreciating who you are, for not respecting you, for not being kind to you and for not making you feel valuable as a human being. I need to say that to so many people, but I'm glad you gave me the oppportunity to say it to you. Most of all, I'm glad we are family, brother and sister in Christ."

We have had the best time writing back and forth getting to know each other. It is so funny how two people who once couldn't stand each other now genuinely look forward to hearing from each other. But that is what Christ does. He totally changes our perspective on life, giving it new meaning and purpose. He takes those things we thought were important and shows us why they aren't. How seeking what the world says brings pleasure really results in regret and guilt. But seeking the Lord brings eternal value, meaning and truth to our lives.

Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. Jesus Christ died in our place to offer us forgiveness of our sin. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Rom 3:23-24

Thank you Lord Jesus, for dieing in our place, and offering forgiveness for our sin. Thank you for a love so great that you were willing to endure more pain and suffering than we can even imagine in order that we might know You. Thank you for being our example and for changing our once hard hearts and molding them around you. Friendship is a special gift from you and I thank you for my special friend and brother in Christ, Bob. Bless him for reaching out in humility so that we could become friends. May you continue to live in and through us, that we may bring glory and honor to your Name. It's in Your Name I pray, Amen.