forgive

Let me introduce Bianca...

(lol. i do love this picture of her)

Bianca and I have had many great conversations. In fact, i have had some of my most thought provoking conversations with her. 

  However, there is one in particular that i remember most.

It was about forgiveness. 

I can't remember the cirumstances in which this discussion came about but none-the-less we sat in our kitchen one summer day and talked about what it means to forgive.

Here's what i remember most: 

She said: to really forgive, means you have to GIVE.

and GIVING isn't always an easy thing to do, which is why the act of forgiveness is so hard for us. Because we've been wronged the last thing we want to do is have to give. 

When you forgive, you're granting a pardon. You are excusing someone. 

You're giving.

and God says (Colossians 3:13)

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.