When We Don’t Forgive, Who Are We Really Hurting?

FORGIVENESS!! What's that all about? If you've been following the news at all, you know that police officer Amber Guyger killed her neighbor Botham Jean. She was found guilty and faces up to 99 years in prison.

Did you see what Botham Jean's brother, Brandt, did in court? He took the opportunity to forgive Amber, asked her to devote her life to Christ, and then asked the judge if he could give her a hug. WOW!

Will you forgive? Maybe the bigger question is...How do we forgive? Are you wasting your time and life with unforgiveness? If you are, then my next question is: How's that working out for you?

I was at Bridgewater Conklin on Sunday and Pastor Matt helped bring this whole subject into proper focus for me.

Many times we don't forgive because we are keeping score. We carry unforgiveness around with us, waiting to get even and make them pay. I've done that and all I did was waste today's time with yesterday's problem.

It's amazing, we keep it around like a pet that keeps biting us. Unforgiveness doesn't accomplish much good and usually destroys the person that's not doing the forgiving...That's you.

It's not easy and I don't claim to have the answers. You see, I like to keep unforgiveness around to keep me company when I just want to be bitter about what's going on around me. You know, someone to blame.

I've been forgiven, then I should forgive as well. Besides, it gets too heavy for me to carry around all the time. If you are having a problem forgiving, check this out.

I KNOW IT'S HELPED ME and I hope it can help you too.

[via Bridgewater Church/Fox News/Mike Leslie]