Day 32

Forgiveness and health

“But it’s so hard to forgive my brother!”

The thought immediately springs to mind, “Who is my brother?”

The story of the Good Samaritan taught who our brother is. Our brother is anyone we meet, in any situation. True, we are to give a brotherly response to those who are in need, but all of us are brothers to each other.

Where on earth do I get the compassion to forgive, how do I get the strength to overcome the pride which we often feel as embarrassment or shame to go out and ask forgiveness of someone?

We ask God to do something in our hearts to allow us to see the need to have a forgiving attitude. That thing we are to do is to simply ask for the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit then does two things.

First we are equipped by Him with both Gifts and Fruit. Included in that fruit is love. The second thing is to note that God, through the Holy Spirit is generous in His giving. That love isn’t dribbled out but poured out.

Ours is then to share that love by offering and seeking forgiveness.

Peter