Teach me To Forgive (7 views)
From:  David (DavidABrown)    7/27/2003 4:10 pm  
To:  ALL    
 
  667.1  
 

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with

         grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life

        this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about

         those who had lied about him back when he had a job.



         His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his

         things and cheated him. He remembered family that

         had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had

         that no one could cure. His very soul was filled

         with anger, resentment and frustration.



         Standing there this day, searching for answers he

         could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he

         knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one

         he knew would always be there. And with tears in his

         eyes, he prayed:



         "Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this

         life. You have told me to do many things for you,

         and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to

         forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't

         know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve

         these wrongs that were done against me and I

         shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is

         Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know

         how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I

         may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do

         this one thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."



         As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak

         tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He

         opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he

         saw something red on his shirt.



         He could not turn to see what it was because where

         the oak tree had been was a large square piece of

         wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two

         feet held to the wood with a large spike through

         them.



         He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes

         as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in

         His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered

         body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw

         the suffering and pain on His precious face. As

         their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing,

         and Jesus began to speak.



         Have you ever told a lie, he asked?
         The man answered - yes Lord.


         Have you ever been given to much change and kept it?
         The man answered yes Lord. And the man sobbed more

         and more.


         Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't
         yours, Jesus asked?
         And the man answered yes Lord.

         Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?
         The man, crying now, answered yes Lord.

         As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The
         man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could
         only answer yes Lord.

         Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the
         other, and the man felt something fall on his other
         shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of
         Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of
         Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had
         never seen or known before.


         Jesus said, I didn't deserve this either, but I
         forgive you


         It may be hard to see how you're going to get
         through something, but when you look back in life,
         you realize how true this statement is.


         Read the first line slowly and let it sink in. This

         is simple, and important. Read on....This first line

         is deep.

         If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.


         Lord I love You and I need You, come into my heart,

         today. For without You I can do nothing.




David A. Brown
Basic Christian: Forum
www.BasicChristian.org

 
