forgiveness

Today I told Joe that I'm choosing to forgive him. It's not because he deserves it or even because he's asked for it, but because I don't want bitterness to become a part of me. This has been a hard week. I don't like the way I've been feeling when I'm around him. It's just been yucky. And so I choose forgiveness. Here's the thing. Holding on to hurts doesn't do anything to the other person. But it leaves this yuck in us that can turn into bitterness, and that's just not something I want in my life. It may be a daily choice that I have to make, and it doesn't mean that I won't get angry or hurt sometimes. What it does mean is that I will feel the anger or the hurt when they come, but then I'll let them go. I won't allow them to penetrate into my being or let them infect my spirit.

One thing is for certain. God is my peace. I don't know how anyone can get through things like this without Him.

"Bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." (not sure where this originated.)

I choose peace. I choose hope. I choose joy.