stp. 4 / forgiveness is an act of kindness , not an act .
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:42 pmOne of the many jewels of wisdom my sponsor left with me , is the fact that , whenever any act of forgiveness is in order , there usualy is an act of harm done that goes right along with it . Whether that harm be initiated by me or someone else . It this not allways nessecary to forgive the person, rather approach the harm itself with a forgiving frame of mind . For it was Jesus that said condemn wrong , not the wrong doer .
Easier said than done ? , Of course it is . My carnal mind doesnt operate on that plane , but that still doesnt change the fact that if I dont forgive I die by it , ... slowly .
How do I go about it ? Following step 9 of AA , by making an amend .
Forgiveness without following up with an act of kindness , is no forgiveness at all , and that , is the core of the difficulty we face when it comes to forgiving others or ourselves . I the being kind to people who had hurt you is what matters here , that's why it is said it'll will be like heaping coal on their head , as of for me , I used to think " why dont you just give me the coal instead , and I'll pour it on their heads myself .
But no, that is not the way , the main purpose of forgiving is for me to heal , not to get the upper hand over the person , no matter what they had done to us .
Another principal in AA taught me is, our problems are of our own making .... at some point I had said or done something that later put me in a position to be sore .
Are there evil people out there ? Yes. do they do things to harm you without provocation on your part ? Yes . Do they make me angry enough to down right commit to a sinfull act ? Yes . but thanks be to God , who also taught me the difference between anger and resentment , anger is is always justified , we're humans , Jesus stormed into the Temole in a fit of anger , Resentment is downright sin , for it seperates you from God Himself .
Live and Let Live
Turn the other cheek
Dont look at your brothers splinter in his eye, when you have a tree in yours
Vengence is Mine, said the Lord
I will not only forgive, but wipe it out of my memory , He also said .
I can go on and on . In fact the whole essence of Jesus' teachings revolve around forgiveness . But always followed by an act of KINDNESS.
Forgiveness without kindness is dead, anyone can say I forgive you ,
It takes faith in the Father to help you act in kindness , for you cant do it without His aide , and if He shows you how , dont doubt how , for He will put the words in your voice and heal YOU in the process.
In Fellowship of Crist ,
Love you all !
Easier said than done ? , Of course it is . My carnal mind doesnt operate on that plane , but that still doesnt change the fact that if I dont forgive I die by it , ... slowly .
How do I go about it ? Following step 9 of AA , by making an amend .
Forgiveness without following up with an act of kindness , is no forgiveness at all , and that , is the core of the difficulty we face when it comes to forgiving others or ourselves . I the being kind to people who had hurt you is what matters here , that's why it is said it'll will be like heaping coal on their head , as of for me , I used to think " why dont you just give me the coal instead , and I'll pour it on their heads myself .
But no, that is not the way , the main purpose of forgiving is for me to heal , not to get the upper hand over the person , no matter what they had done to us .
Another principal in AA taught me is, our problems are of our own making .... at some point I had said or done something that later put me in a position to be sore .
Are there evil people out there ? Yes. do they do things to harm you without provocation on your part ? Yes . Do they make me angry enough to down right commit to a sinfull act ? Yes . but thanks be to God , who also taught me the difference between anger and resentment , anger is is always justified , we're humans , Jesus stormed into the Temole in a fit of anger , Resentment is downright sin , for it seperates you from God Himself .
Live and Let Live
Turn the other cheek
Dont look at your brothers splinter in his eye, when you have a tree in yours
Vengence is Mine, said the Lord
I will not only forgive, but wipe it out of my memory , He also said .
I can go on and on . In fact the whole essence of Jesus' teachings revolve around forgiveness . But always followed by an act of KINDNESS.
Forgiveness without kindness is dead, anyone can say I forgive you ,
It takes faith in the Father to help you act in kindness , for you cant do it without His aide , and if He shows you how , dont doubt how , for He will put the words in your voice and heal YOU in the process.
In Fellowship of Crist ,
Love you all !