“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Lewis B. Smedes

As Holy Week is culminating for Christians and Passover is about to begin for those of the Jewish faith, the topic of forgiveness seems appropriate. And when it comes to forgiveness, trust me when I tell you that no one has more work to do here than me!

Who do you need to forgive? Is there a name (or two) that immediately comes to mind for you? When you think of that person right now, do you see how you have been the “prisoner?” Forgiveness doesn’t excuse anyone’s behavior, it just stops the thought of it from destroying our heart.

I don’t want to be a prisoner anymore, what about you? Carrying this weight is really heavy and some of us have carried this burden for a long time—years, in fact. Wouldn’t you like to release this heavy load? True peace awaits us all if we can simply release our grip. Forgiveness doesn’t change the past, but it sure does change the future. 

With Gratitude,
Beth
P.S. The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu is by far the best book I have read on the subject.