Dear Ones,
Happy Weekend! The sun finally came out and the morning clouds are gone.
This morning I had in mind to clean my pantry, but started on the other kitchen cupboards first; they are nearly done but I haven’t gotten yet to the pantry! I have great news! Harris, whom I asked you to pray for got a call from the Dr. this morning. His liver scan got mixed up with someone else’s in the ER and he does not have cancer of the liver. Sad for the one who formerly got the news that he was fine and now must be told the hard news though.
This morning I had in mind to clean my pantry, but started on the other kitchen cupboards first; they are nearly done but I haven’t gotten yet to the pantry! I have great news! Harris, whom I asked you to pray for got a call from the Dr. this morning. His liver scan got mixed up with someone else’s in the ER and he does not have cancer of the liver. Sad for the one who formerly got the news that he was fine and now must be told the hard news though. Devotions from Judy’s heart
Forgiveness is a beautiful thing, and so freeing. We all need to forgive others but also to be forgiven. Carlos Whittaker writes on Crossroads.com about how forgiveness unlocks heaven. When we choose to live in unforgiveness it is like a roadblock to all that God has for our lives and we miss out. But when we forgive, we release the other person into freedom. We are in essence saying that we no longer feel resentment against the person and no more desire to retaliate. When we pardon someone, we are excusing the offense without exacting the penalty. It leaves us free to receive God’s love. Of course, the enemy loves to whisper lies as to why we should hang on to our resentment and tell us the person is not worthy or sorry enough. But we can ask God for help and remember how He has pardoned us. I think of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and may it be our prayer.
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
Amen.”
Challenge for today: Pray the prayer of St. Francis several times this week.
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