Learn The Art And Act Of Forgiveness

By Nyiumin Ubulom

I read about a gifted young man from one of Bishop T. D. Jakes books, who had bright ideas, that would have been useful enough to build strong and great business empires for himself.
He had a lot to offer;  but at a point,  his family, business and overall life began to disintegrate.
This was due to the horrible guilt he carried; over a very complicated and pain-filled childhood.

He said some very disrespectful things to his father. Statements said out of rage and frustration but were very damaging.
He had no way of knowing his father would be killed before he could apologize and so he  lived with the echoes of his own words running over and over his head.

It is true that at some point or other, all of us will let even ourselves down but it isn't  true that you have to serve a life sentence in a septic tank just because you made poor judgements in the past.
You may make mistakes but you are not the mistake.

We often fail to extend forgiveness to the one person that needs it the most, the one person who desperately cries for mercy and grace on a daily basis and sometimes we berate this individual as unworthy of such kindness and consideration.

Sometimes we are our  own worst enemy when it comes to forgiveness.
We may be willing to forgive other people, even those who may have committed the most heinous offenses against us and yet carry packs of resentment, anger, frustration and hatred towards ourselves.

The bible says we should love our neighbours as ourselves.
Many people do not seem to have this healthy love for themselves which makes it nearly impossible for them to love others any better.

All of us are imperfect and we often make mistakes. Our job is not to correct ourselves and get every aspect of our lives lined up in perfect order for divine inspection. We simply need to receive  the love God gives us like a child receives recess.
Children don't linger in the classroom sulking and saying "i cant go out to play today, I'm just a terrible kid".
They run outside into the sunshine laughing and racing to a joyful abandon that's undeterred by whether or not they got good grades in their homework.

You are better than the worst things you have ever done. You are not who you once were or who you will be tomorrow.
There has to be a moment where you say, i am through paying the price for my sins.
Your scars and past don't define you, they only tell a story of your survival.
Your life is a work of art in progress from the Masterpiece Maker of the universe.
You need to quit judging yourself and condemning yourself to a false identity.

No matter how unlovable and worthless you may feel, God knows everything about you and loves what he sees in you.
Your secrets are not secrets to God and your ways are not his ways.
Once God gives you a gift or calling, he does not change his mind. He knew what you were going to do with it or not do with it long before you got to the place where you are currently.

Take the energy that is spent in suffering and recycle it to use your pain to empower others .
Write about it,  teach about it. Share your story with people who may be tempted to make the mistakes you have made.