Forgiveness ensures survival

Written by Dede Abebreser Tsonyake.

“I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men. So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (NIV) Luke 15:18-20

There is a story making rounds on social media about a husband who refused to forgive his wife and refused to pick up several calls from her only to realize too late the reason why the wife was calling. She was calling for help because she was having one of her asthmatic attacks and needed her husband to bring her the only thing that can save her- the inhaler. This husband lost his wife because he refused to forgive her.

Forgiveness is hard, it is difficult but which is easier, to lose a loved one because you refuse to forgive or to forgive and still have that loved one still with you? The parable of the prodigal son is a clear example of how forgiveness saved a life. A son who decided to take his part of his inheritance even before his father’s death and finally decided to come back home because he was starving to death, certainly, if we were the father, we will conclude he does not need forgiveness. If the father had refused to forgive his son, this son would have starved to death. Unlike the story above, the father wholeheartedly forgave his son so as to save his life.

Today, many marriages, homes, families, friendships, and other good relationships are broken or dead just because the parties involved refused to forgive each other. It seems we prefer the pain and suffering that comes from the death of these relationships to the joy and sustenance that would come when we forgive. Why can’t we just choose the path of forgiveness that yields a happy ending rather we prefer the path of unforgiveness that brings pain? If we learn to reach into our compassionate hearts like the father of the prodigal son did anytime we have to forgive people who wrong us, then forgiveness will be easier.

Today, salvation is free because God forgave us and allowed His son to die for our sins so He can reconcile us to Himself. Let us emulate God’s example of forgiveness to reconcile so we can extend that forgiving arm to everyone to ensure our own happiness and peace of mind. God bless you.

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