Moving Day

Last night my son's Veggie Tale Bedtime Devotional happened to be over forgiving those that have done wrong against you.  It was amazing to see what a simple concept this was for him. In his mind it was an easy thing to do. Why?  Because that is what God told him to do and your heart must follow God, and well, because he is seven and has been fortunate enough to experience a life of love and support on a daily basis.  Therefore, forgiving someone for taking a toy is a simple concept.  But what about forgiving someone that has stolen your childhood from you or any other terrible wrong committed against you.  

I began to think of clients that seek assistance or adolescents that are rebelling and are filled with anguish and pain over wrongs that they have suffered at the hands of others.  How could I possibly take the clean cut view point of a seven year old and relay it to clients?  The longer I sat there, I realized that you have to pick up and move.  I don't mean move physically.  You move from your mind to your heart.  We let our minds follow negative internal dialogue and replay it through out our day.  We allow our minds to dissect and ponder an issue trying to decipher what someone meant by something and the "whys" of the situation.  Yes, forgiveness is difficult.  It is even more difficult when it is a concept we approach with our mind.  If we move it from our mind to our heart and understand that God will help us to forgive as He has forgiven us, we will see how much less intimidating and painful the process becomes.  It is truly for our benefit that we forgive.  

We serve a just and fair God and a God of joy.  Why not make a goal today of working towards moving forgiveness from your mind to your heart? Start packing those defeating thoughts into boxes, seal them with tape and walk them straight to your heart.  Once there, give them to God to handle.  He will unpack them and place your new hope onto the shelves of your life.

Proverbs 19:11~The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.