I Forgive You....

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the
woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not
right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a
job. His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things
and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned
to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with
anger, resentment and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing
all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the
one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:
"Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me
to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to
forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is not
fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I
shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I
cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I
fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I
cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt
something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of
one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. As he turned to see what it was,
he became aware that where the oak tree had been was now a large square
piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to
the wood with a large spike through them. He raised his head more, and tears
came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His
hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into
His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As
their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

"Have you ever told a lie?" He asked? The man answered," yes, Lord."
"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?" The man answered,
"yes. Lord."
"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?" Jesus asked?
And the man answered , "yes, Lord."
"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?" The man sobbed,
"yes, Lord."
As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became
uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes, Lord."

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt
something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the
blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and
there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before. Jesus
said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."

This is an old story that I have heard. I don't know the author. Perhaps
it is a story passed down from Grandparent to Grandchild, or a Parent to a
Child. But it's truth is profound. The story is based on Bible scripture.
Matthew 6: 12 KJV says, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors." Matthew 6:14-15 says, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." A simple and
yet an unyielding law of heaven often becomes the most difficult three words
in the language of man...I forgive you....Patti