Conversation Between Two...

She said …

To forgive and forget: Wow! That’s a lot to ask me to do. I’ve been betrayed, rejected, mistreated, abused, unloved, and lied to. Boy, I could tell you some stories of things I’ve gone through then you would understand that I’m not sure I can do that.

It started when I was really little, I suppose about four years old. My dad …………
Then my parents divorced when I was still little. That was real hard. The trouble with that was …………
You know, as I grew up, my brothers and sisters didn’t really like me much. They used to ……………
Then, my mom’s third husband, he would do things to me like …………….
When it came to middle school, those were some difficult years. Kids can be mean, like ………………
High school was a challenge. Nothing seemed to go right …………………..
I had this boyfirend, but he broke up with me two weeks before …………
After that, it was hard to trust again. Then I met this really nice guy and we were married …………
I found out he was cheating on me. I stayed because I didn’t want ……………
I didn’t ever want the police to arrest him, but our son saw …………….
Soon we had another baby, but he wasn’t happy about it ………………
Again, he cheated on me and I knew I had to leave ……………..
He had me in the bedroom with a shotgun on the shelf next to …….…….
I found myself half way cross the country, two children and no plan except to get away ………..
I began losing feeling in my legs and arms from time to time and the doctor said I had ………………
I went to see my mom before I headed back to ………………….
I arrived home to find that I was still alone …………..

The story goes on and on. How am I to forgive and forget? How can I forgive with all I’ve gone through?

He said …

Now, I have a story to tell you. There was a time when my son was far away from me. I sent him to war so that he could put an end to the fighting. The enemy had a plan to seize my son and destroy him. The enemy even snuck into that ranks so that my son wound up to be betrayed, rejected, mistreated, abused, unloved, and lied to, even on the battle field.

Yet, …………. I knew the day when my son died. He sent word to me, so I would know when he was leaving. You see, we had a plan before he went to war and he wanted me to know when the orders were completed. His message to me was not written with pen and paper. He did not send a messenger with a note. Yet, …………. I knew the moment when he died. I felt his breath as it left his body, even from the distance we were apart. My son and I have that kind of relationship, because we are one. We will always be together. It’s as if he never left. Yet, …………. I knew the day when my son died. I heard his last words, even to the end. One of the last things he said was, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. “

I have kept that promise, as I said to Jeremiah long before, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” *

I have loved without hesitation, and I have received rejection and betrayal. I have remained faithful to my commitments, but people have continued to mistreat me. No matter how hard I try, I am often unloved and abused. I am lied to daily, although I remain true to my word. My desire is to love. I am always there to be found.

It’s time for you to listen to this, “If you forgive others when they sin against you, I will also forgive you.” **


*Jeremiah 31:34b
**Mathew 6:14