No Excuses
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Dear Denise,
I thought of you on Saturday. I was at the hair salon, and John apparently is a Beatles fan. He played most of the Magical Mystery Tour Album while he highlighted my hair. As I hummed the tune to “Strawberry Fields Forever,” I relived that dark day in 1975 when I realized my cherished double vinyl Red album was missing. Uncle Mandi had bought it for me for my birthday, and I knew every song by heart. When I saw my prized possession sitting on your bedroom floor two weeks later, I wanted to punch you in the face and take it back. I still have no idea how you managed to get it out of my house without mom noticing. I do not believe your lame excuse that your grandma bought it for you. Everyone knows that old Cuban ladies have zero taste in good Rock and Roll. I cried the ugly cry when mom told me to “let bygones be bygones.” I wanted to give you a Ticket to Ride straight to hell.
But on Saturday, as I sang along to “All You Need is Love,” the sting of that painful day was gone. I forgave you long ago. My pastor once said that harboring a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. I laid you and that Beatles’ Album down at the foot of the cross.
I don’t want Yesterday to cloud my tomorrow. All my troubles are not here to stay.
Now that I follow Jesus, I am playing by a new set of rules:
You’re familiar with the old written law, “Love your friend,” and its unwritten companion, “Hate your enemy.” I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives His best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty (Matthew 5:43-46, MSG).
Lord, help me to freely forgive others just as You forgive me.
~
Let’s Talk:
Do you have a Denise? Does unforgiveness crowd your prayer closet?
~
This year, my desire is to lift up holy hands and “Pray Big.” Want to join me? I’ve created a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for like-minded sisters to share their stories and surrender each one to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s cry out to God together.
You have a gift of pulling me right in to the emotions of that long ago moment and I felt that hurt and betrayal, and then the joy of freedom, right there with your hair wrapped in foil at the salon.
Lyli, I love that verse in the Msg. translation. 🙂 I think that I’ve forgiven, but for me, the forgetting is the hard part. It’s not an un-forgetfulness that has a grudge, as much as it’s an un-forgetfulness that still hurts my heart. By not forgetting, I give it power though, so…Baby steps toward healing, right? 🙂 Thanks for sharing, and thanks for hosting the linkup, today. ((Hug)) <3
My bible study time this morning talked of not taking offense–how letting go of an offense brings glory to God. Sometimes it’s SOOOO hard, isn’t it?
Oh boy, that word ‘forgiveness’…it can feel so hard to do, but so freeing when we decide to do it! Thanks for sharing your story. I hope that your ‘Pray BIG’ movement grows and moves many hearts, because we need that!
I think we all have a Denise, probably more than one. But there is freedom in forgiveness. Like Brenda, I still have hurt but no anger or grudge. Thanks for the beautiful way you shared this always timely truth! Blessings!
Oy, I most definitely have a Denise. It is hard when that happens because deep down it is hard to let go of the pain but in the same token, I know it goes against everything my faith stands for. So praying… boldly at that… is always the way to go. I dont comment much but I am thoroughly enjoying this 31 Days series.
I love this, Lyli. It’s never too late (or too soon) to forgive. Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to think back to my long ago past and see if there’s any unforgiveness hanging around….
I love this story, so convicting for this heart of mine. There are things I need to lay down at the foot of the cross, Lord help me.
Powerful post, Lyli–and so important to walking in the fullness of all God has called us to be and do! A lesson hard-learned in my life many years ago–that served me well when the ultimate betrayal of my 1st husband destroyed our home. Having walked the pathway of learning forgiveness, I was able to overcome the temptation to bitterness. Both my self and my children were better for it and found healing so much easier.
Joy to you!
Kathy
Lyli, this is SOOOO good. I know all of those songs and find myself humming and singing right now. The way your wove the titles into your post is so good!
And I am so grateful that God has given us a way to forgive as He has forgiven us. Amen. Thank You, Lord.
May we walk this life with love in our hearts instead of anger, hatred, jealousy, and so many other emotions and feelings like that.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Don’t we all have a “Denise”. How well I remember loaning my cherished book, “The Wizard of Oz” to a girl (don’t even remember her name). She lived around the corner from us. When I went knocking on her door to ask for it back, as it had been so long, she returned it all broken & separated from its spine. I was heartbroken. Lyli, it’s never too late for us to lay it down before the Lord & you brought a powerful word to help us all do just that. Blessings!
You pulled me in with your story – I felt it. I’ve lived that human betrayal and am learning to live forgiveness. You have “told” the story in such a redemptive way – without retelling, retelling, retelling unforgiveness. Unforgiveness keeps telling the story without redemption. Forgiveness tells it with forgiveness! Beautifully well-done!
I did not always have a Denise til I married my husband who was divorced and now I have an ex-wife. I try to pray for her, but it hard. I am amazed how good God is at forgiveness now that I have experienced unforgiveness on my part.