How To Forgive (WOW)

[Judy Harder]

How To Forgive (WOW)

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:

'Lor d- You have done wonderful things for me in this li fe . You have
told
me to do many things for you, and I happilyobeyed. 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 spik e through them.

He raised his head more, and tears came to h is eyes as he saw Jesus
hanging on a cross. He sa w 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 answe red - 'yes, Lord.'

'Have you ever been given too 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 tha t 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 following first line slowly and let it sink in.

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

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!