Locked inside a grudge, March 15, 2016 Daily Reflection

Copyright Max Lucado

Copyright Max Lucado

It is so easy to get locked inside a grudge. Someone does something to us that is wrong, hurtful, and just down right unkind. So, why can’t we hold a grudge when they obviously deserve to be punished for their action? Why is it wrong to try to teach them a lesson and just hate that person for awhile? Why is it wrong to hold that action against that person and with hold forgiveness? After all, the person deserves that type of treatment, right?

If your intention is to teach a lesson, punish, or seek revenge this “grudge” will not do the trick. A grudge hurts the victim much more than it hurts the offender. Yes, it may hurt the offender for awhile, but that person doesn’t live within your mind 24/7. You live with yourself, the pain, the memory, and the hate. The more you sulk in the hate, and discomfort the deeper the hurt becomes. Eventually you have locked yourself inside that grudge and cannot seem to see a way out. There is one way out…forgiveness.

To forgive another person is an act of love and compassion. It is not easy to forgive someone who has hurt us. If we choose not to forgive we allow the pain to seep deeper into our souls. If we accept what happened, reflect on the situation, try to learn from it, and then let it go.

The next time someone wrongs you forgive them right then and there. Let it go. If you are dealing with a deep grudge pray about forgiveness. Reflect on how this grudge is hurting the relationships in your life. Start the process of forgiveness and see how it will set you free!

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