{The Healing Heart} Forgotten

[Gretchen Offord [SGLC]]

{The Healing Heart} Forgotten

One of the many interesting stories circulating over the past couple of days has been the
story about Nelson Mandela's 'forgive but not forget' attitude of heart & mind.

He determined to remember what had happened to him, as it motivated him to continue
his fight for the freedom of his country from the bonds of hate, anger, resentment,
arrogance, and self.

His perspective on forgiveness was different than the forgiveness related to relationships.
Mandela's forgiveness included not holding against those responsible the wrongs they had
committed but remembering so to find the means to stop those wrongs. That's social
justice.

In relationships, we find that knowingly or not we have wronged someone we care for
very much. It's part of life yet a hard process in which to enter because of the sense
of shame or guilt we might carry.

I think that forgiveness, the relationship and God types of forgiveness, is a process and it works best
when we 'pardon' the other party, releasing them from the obligation we think they
owe us (entitlement, perhaps?), and determining to make the relationship with them
better.

It seems that's God's perspective, in Psalm 103 and 139.

"It is forgiven, I have forgotten, it is buried in the deepest sea, I want a better relationship with
you because this event has broken walls between us, made our friendship and
relationship deeper and stronger,. I am here always for you."

Isn't that truly the love of God?

Isn't that truly how we should handle our relationship difficulties?

As God values us, as dear to Him and worth knowing, so also should we consider
others of the same value.

©2013 Gretchen Offord, Susannah's Grace Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

[Note: This devotional relates to singular events. Repeated or regularly occurring events (where
apologies exist but attitudes or behaviors don't change) indicate a
deeper problem of heart and mind of the hurtful party; consider your options carefully going
forward.]
 

"The head may seek God, but it is the heart that finds Him." Jeremiah 29:13
Susannah's Grace Life Coaching (Leadership; Mentoring; Counseling ) ~ Healing For The Wounded Heart