Restoration

Why do I need to forgive others?  Why do I need others to forgive me?

     Have you ever been in a situation where you did not forgive someone because you don't think they were sorry about what they had done?  I remember as a child when I was being taught to apologize for something I had done and the person said "Say it like you mean it" or "you don't sound sorry!"  That made sense to me.  There should be a statement the one person was at fault and the other person recognizes the error and regret of the other and gives forgiveness.  I wish it was always so black and white.
     If you really analyze that situation, it appears that the person who has made the error and asks for forgiveness is giving up their ability to claim that they were right.  The person who forgives is giving up their right to hold the upper ground as the "injured party."  As far as pride goes, both people are giving something up.  Why would both parties give up?   What would happen if they didn't?

     Couldn't the person who made the error refuse to admit it?  Haven't we all seen these situations?  Family members refuse to talk to each other for years in an attempt to avoid having to admit someone was not perfect.  They protect their pride at the expense of their families.

     Couldn't the person who was hurt refuse to believe that the other one truly was sorry?  Couldn't they hold out for confirmation that the other person's has been racked by guilt and suffering because of their choices?  How many marriages were lost because of a need to be "right" and make sure the other person felt as bad about the situation as they did?

Forgiveness is not about determining blame.  Forgiveness is not about winning and losing.

I think the beauty of forgiveness is that both people restored their relationship.  Forgiveness is all about restoring a relationship.  It is about placing ourselves in a place where we give up something for the benefit of another person.  We call that LOVE.

Why does God allow us to go through these type of battles?  It is a demonstration of our relationship with Him.  God so loved the world that He gave his only son.... He was not doing it because he had to do it.  He did it to offer forgiveness, he did it to show love and a desire to restore a relationship that was broken when mankind made a choice that disrupted our relationship with Him.  He forgives and we must be willing to accept that we are not perfect and made a wrong decision.

God even offered forgiveness by sending His son before we admitted our blame.  "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Restore your relationship with God by asking Him to forgive you for not following His commandments.  Accept the gift of forgiveness.  He has promised He will forgive if you ask.  Restore that relationship.