“Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.” – Colossians 3:13
Charlie was the luckiest guy alive. He had a magnificent marriage, adoring children, and a great job. Work was close so he was frequently able to ‘sneak away’ for lunch with Eva and his two young boys. Those days were always the most productive!
After a quick lunch and a couple of rounds of "dog-pile-on daddy,” he spent a few minutes with Eva before jumping in his car for the short drive back to work. He was running a bit late as he backed down the driveway.
Crunch!
“Damn!” he muttered. Joey must have left his motorized jeep behind the car again. How many times had he reminded him not to do that, irritation streaking through his veins now.
He hurried to check the damage, and was mortified to find Joey’s limp body tangled in the plastic frame of his once pristine toy vehicle. Oh my God! He scooped Joey’s unconscious little body in his arms and yelled at Eva to meet him at the hospital (She had to round up Billy first).
Never had he prayed so feverishly. Blasting through several stoplights, he arrived at the hospital. Joey had still not moved a muscle or uttered a whimper. Charlie handed his lifeless child to the ER doctor and waited for Eva. He was terrified. How would he face her?
“I’m so sorry,” the doctor said “We did everything we could, but his injuries . . .” Charlie didn’t hear another word.
When Eva arrived to see him sobbing, she knew that their lives had just changed forever. She looked at her distraught husband and uttered just four words: "I Love You Darling".
That’s exactly how Jesus would have reacted. Joey was gone; he would never come back to life. There’s no point in finding fault with Charlie; no point in blaming him. He too had lost his beautiful son. What he needed at that moment was consolation and compassion from his wife. That’s what Eva unselfishly gave him.
Sometimes we exert too much energy asking who’s responsible or who's to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know and miss out on opportunities to provide needed warmth and kindness.
Shouldn't forgiving someone we love be the easiest thing in the world to do?
We either control our attitudes or they control us. Don't multiply pain, anguish and suffering by withholding forgiveness. The people you care about most are the essence of life. Tell them today how much you love them and what they mean to you.
Forgiving Father, show us how to treasure what we have. Help us let go of all our envies, jealousies, unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears. Help me to always be kinder than necessary. Amen.
