Forgiveness

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 had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground.
He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike
through them. 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?" man answered - yes Lord.

"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?"

The man answered yes Lord. And the man sobbed more and more.

"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours," Jesus asked?

And the man answered yes Lord.

"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?"

The man, crying now, answered yes Lord.

As Jesus asked many more times,

"Have you ever"? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only
answer yes Lord. Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and
the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it
was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus,
and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.

Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when
you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is. Read the
first line slowly and let it sink in. This is simple, and important. Read
on.... This first line is deep.

IF GOD BRINGS YOU TO IT - HE WILL BRING YOU THROUGH IT.

Lord I love You and I need you, come into my heart, today. For without you I
can do nothing.