Great reading to go along with today's dare. Forgiveness is essential in fostering a healthy marriage and I couldn't agree more. I tend to forgive easily, although my process for getting to forgiveness almost always involves anger. Kendra on the other hand needs time to process wrongs that have been done to her and then she can come to a place of forgiveness. What I found to be interesting is how long it took me to settle on things I haven't forgiven Kendra for. I can think of stories from our past where she will still bring up events that happened and I can hear in her voice the pain I caused. I can't think of those for myself. I don't recall any super sins or great pains that Kendra has caused me from her actions. Most of the thoughts that have settled in my head are petty things that annoy me. Her sense of justice that drives her to make irrational thoughts, her over emotional states that I chose to react to with harshness. From the depths of my heart I cannot honestly think of areas I haven't forgiven her for. So I will chose in this moment to declare that I will forgive you Kendra for any offense that may come my way in the future. Like the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13, I will chose to keep no records of wrongs done by you. I will focus my energies and beliefs on this singular thought when I feel pain be decisions made toward me..."I love her and she is human, like me she will fail to show me love at all times, but I will love her through it."
I can say that releasing past sins to God does provide an immense sense of relief. It has been essential when raising the children. Much like marriage, when I chose to focus on their needs in the moment and not mine, my decisions are so much more loving.
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Chad, forgiving Kendra for any past and all future offenses is fantastic, but I wonder... have you forgiven yourself for all your past and any future wrong doings? Forgiveness of the other person is so important in any relationship, and especially one so intimate as a marriage. But, forgiving yourself for moments of weakness, moments of poor judgment, or just moments of irrational feelings are almost more important.
ReplyDeleteHave you forgiven yourself Chad for any past offenses you have done?
Funny you should mention this as today's dare really focuses on my responsibility to get clear with my choices and move forward past them. Thanks for the insight Jackie.
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