"A Christmas Gift For YOU!"

This Christmas, give YOURSELF the most meaningful gift of all: forgiveness! We all have moments where pride stops us from saying two simple words, "I'm Sorry." We also may hold onto something done to us, allowing this wrongdoing to prevent us from offering forgiveness. Both situations result from a place of pride, a weapon the enemy uses against us. We may not realize it, but that pride creates a barrier between us and God, preventing us from forging a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father.

A few weeks ago, I was made aware of a situation that, while I had no control over, had I known what was occurring, my response to this person would have been different. This person needed the love of God to surround them a few years ago, but I missed the opportunity to be the vessel that God wants us all to be. I always say, "You never know what is going on behind someone else's eyes." I had no idea at the time what this person was going through, and when they shared what the past few years had looked like behind their own eyes, I was broken on the inside. I knew I needed to say those two simple words, "I'm sorry." I finally got to share my apology yesterday. Relationships are the foundation of our faith and why we celebrate Christmas. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die in order for us to have a relationship with Him. Relationships are important!

Bible speaks of the importance of forgiveness and our willingness to let go of the things that weigh us down. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus says, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." This scripture emphasizes that if we are struggling to forgive someone, or if someone has wronged us, we should not offer our gift before the altar until we have first forgiven and made peace.

Another example comes from Matthew 6:14-15, where Jesus states, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." This scripture highlights the importance of forgiving as it directly relates to our relationship with God. Our Heavenly Father will forgive us if we are willing to forgive those who have wronged us.

We must also recognize the importance of pride and the self-destructive nature it can have in our lives. Proverbs 16:18 states, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." This scripture is a reminder of the dangers of pride. God loved us so much that He allowed His Son to be born just to be sacrificed for each one of us. So we could receive forgiveness and freely extend forgiveness to others. Being weighed down by unforgiveness and pride WILL prevent us from forging a deeper relationship with God.

This Christmas season, let us all take a moment and look at our hearts. Is there something that needs to be forgiven or apologized for? Let us take this opportunity to reflect and make peace with others so we can build an even stronger relationship with our Heavenly Father. Once we have done this, we can truly appreciate the gift of Christmas and the joys of the season. ©Rita Larson 12/6/2023

#Relationships #Forgiveness #ThisChristmas #OnWordandUpWord

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