Forgiving others is the most challenging commandment for me.
I will not tell you the stories of people who have acted abusive toward me. Retelling those stories would be counter productive.
But the scriptures are very clear on this point.
Jesus Christ taught:
Matthew 5
[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
And Jesus forgave the soldiers who nailed him to the cross.
Luke 23
[34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
* * *
I am well aware that I need to follow Christ’s teachings on forgiveness, but I am still tempted to seek some sort of justice or even revenge by publically exposing what “my enemies” have done to me.
In such instances, the following Book of Mormon and Bible verses comes to my mind:
Mormon 8
[20] Behold what the scripture says — man shall not smite, neither shall he judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.
1 Peter 3
[8] Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
[9] Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
See also Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19 & Hebrews 10:30.
* * *
Well I am making some progress toward forgiving people who have hurt me, but I still have a ways to go.
In each case, I have had to physically move away from each of these people due to the circumstances of the abuse. In some ways, it would have been better to have had full reconciliation with each of them. But I needed to “move on.” Perhaps this was similar in a small way to the Children of Israel who needed to leave Egypt in order to go to the promised land of Canaan.
Afterward, I wrote letters to each of these people, expressing my desired for reconciliation, but I have not received any replies. But I still need to forgive each of them.
Also, I try to spend some time helping others. When I serve others, I think less about my own problems.
Ghandi said: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
Let us seek strength in Christ by forgiving those who have hurt us.
May the Lord bless you,
Tom Irvine