How to Forgive

[bfez1]

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with
> grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about
> his life this day, he knew many things were not right.
> He thought about those who had lied about him back
> when he had a job.
>
> His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his
> things and cheated him.
>
> He remembered family that had passed on. His mind
> turned to the illness he had that no one could cure.
> His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.
>
> Standing there this day, searching for answers he
> could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he
> knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he
> knew would always be there. And with tears in his
> eyes, he prayed:
>
> "Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this
> life. You have told me to do many things for you, and
> I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive.
> I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It
> is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that
> were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.
> As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot
> do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so
> deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that
> you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do - Teach
> me To Forgive."
>
> As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak
> tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He
> opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on

> his shirt.
>
> He could not turn to see what it was because where
> the oak tree had been was a large square piece of
> wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two
> feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.
>
> He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes
> as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes
> in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered
> body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw
> the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their
> eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and
> Jesus began to speak.
>
> "Have you ever told a lie?" He asked?
> The man answered - "yes, Lord."
>
> "Have you ever been given too much change and kept
> it?"
> The man answered - " yes. Lord." And the man
> sobbed more and more.
>
> "Have you ever taken something from work that
> wasn't yours?" Jesus asked?
> And the man answered - "yes, Lord."
>
> "Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in
> vain? "
> The man, crying now, answered - "yes, Lord."
>
> As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"?
> The man's crying became
> uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes, Lord."
>
> Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the
> other, and the man felt something fall on his other
> shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of
> Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those
> of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had
> never seen or known before.
>
> Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."
>
> It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but
> when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.
> Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.
>
> If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.
> Lord I love You and I need You, come into my heart,
> today. For without You I can do nothing.
>