Forgiveness

Forgiveness is one of the great themes of Scripture, sounding constantly throughout the Old and New Testaments alike. But what exactly does forgiveness mean? What do we do about the violent emotions that assault us when we think of the person we're supposed to forgive? What actions that we might take are consistent with a forgiving heart? In this brief devotional, Sharon Edel brings a lifetime of experience and Christian reflection to bear on these and related questions. In Part II, Learning the Mind of Christ, Sharon extends her meditations on forgiveness to a closely related subject. Sometimes, we find ourselves contemplating a course of action which we associate with forgiveness, mercy, or Christian charity; but is that action truly the will of God? Might it instead be a temptation that will only lead to self-inflicted misery, and even harm those whom we intended to help? This is a tough subject, and Sharon deals it with it honestly and head-on, with examples drawn from real life.