A Gift for Yourself

I just finished reading The Shack. What a powerful, emotionally-charged and life-changing story it is! This Christmas, give yourself a gift and read it.

One of the points that touched me the most was the conversation about forgiveness (don't worry, I won't blow the story for you) and how we let those who hurt us control us by not letting go. In fact, by thinking we are "showing them" by not forgiving them, we are doing just the opposite; we are letting them win and get the best of us! Hate is like a cancer...it will grow and take over.

By forgiving those who hurt or harm us, we are letting go of the ugliness inside of us...freeing it for God to handle. What I liked most about the story in the book was how God told Mack, the main character, that it was okay to still be angry. Anger and hate are two separate things. When a person does a sinful, wrongful act, it is still sin and wrong. We are justified in our anger, but holding on to it won't do us a bit of good. AND the big one for me...just because we forgive someone doesn't mean we have to be best friends. If they don't show remorse or change their ways, you aren't asked to subject yourself to more pain. You simply turn them over to God, who loves them despite themselves.

And this brought me to another gift you should give yourself this Christmas...forgiving yourself. We all make mistakes, say the wrong thing and fall short, but praise be to God that He loves us despite "ourselves." Blessings,