Three Little words

I bet you were thinking the three little words were going to be "I love you". Those are very important words, but actually, "I forgive you", to me, mean "I love you". Our Lord's prayer from the cross, "Father forgive them", we're symbolic as if to say, no matter what you did to me, "I love you". When we truly forgive, we truly love. What harsher circumstances could there have been then betrayal, scourging, crowning with thorns and all of the other cruelties incurred on our Lord Jesus? Yet He still asked our Heavenly Father to forgive them. For Him to include in His last breath, the words, " Father forgive them" is a sign to us that it is important to forgive, no matter what. 

     I have found this to be a very hard practice to observe and to mean it truly in my heart. In my mind, many times, I believe I didn't deserve that harshness laid upon me. My being the whipping post was unfair and disrespectful. But really, who am I?, but a sinner inflicting the same punishment on our Lord every time I sin. He doesn't throw me away. He doesn't hold it against me, so therefore, how can I? 

     Lessons learned in true forgiveness are worthy of a crown of glory. They help us move on with peace and make us realize that God's justice is enough. Holding disdain or vengeance in our hearts only promotes unrest and sorrow. A pity party for ourselves that only brings one person to the table. Ourselves. 

     I always come to the conclusion that that wasn't really so hard to do. Forgiving someone or saying "I'm sorry". We want to be forgiven when we say that, don't we? But our pride holds domain over us when the shoe is on the other foot. 

     Three little words, "I forgive you". Not so hard at all when considering you want or need our Lord to forgive you.     

     You want peace? Then forgive.