By David Coy
Sunrise
Years ago someone told me of an incident at their loved one’s visitation when a visitor who no doubt meant well said something insensitive and hurtful without thinking or realizing. Thoughtless words or actions can inflict pain. The opening line in a 1867 song by Horatio R. Palmer illustrates this point, “Angry words! O let them never from the tongue unbridled slip; May the heart’s best impulse ever Check them ere they soil the lip.” Sometimes words and actions not thought out prior to delivery can inflict harm to the recipient. If the wronged then harbors ill will this can lead to unhealthy result. The solution is forgiveness, but this is not easy. Matthew 18:15-35 provides the answer.
This is where it is difficult. If a person offends another and thus is guilty of some wrongdoing then the injured party has a responsibility to go to the offender and show them their fault. If they hear you (change in frame of mind and feeling and change in principle and practice, verse 15), the offended is to forgive (to let go, give up a debt, to forgive, verse 35). Hebrews 10:2 brings into the discussion the import of forgetting the offense (in the sense of guilt) with no more consciousness of the offense. This is compassion or mercy (see also verse 27). It also takes patience on the part of the offended (see verse 26 and 29). From verse 23 onward an illustration is given of two servants who owed a debt. The first debt equaled to five lifetimes wages and the second four months. Patience was requested (verse 26), and patience was granted with compassion, releasing him, and then forgiven (verse 27). This we all need.
If we may support you in your grief journey, please allow us the opportunity.
This is Sunrise Aftercare.
