"Dede's Walk With God"
Teach Me How To Forgive
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. He could not turn to see what
it was because where the oak tree 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 - "Have you ever taken
something from work that wasn't yours?" "Have you ever sworn, using
my Father's name in vain? " As Jesus asked many more
times,
"Have you ever"? Then Jesus turned His head
from one side to the other,
and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. Jesus said, It may be hard to see how
you're going to get through something, If God brings you to it -
He will bring you through it.
|
Please click on HOLY SPIRIT above for my index page....... Dede
Thomas Blackshear II is the very talented artist of this painting.