Relationships – Page 4

On Forgiveness

“Oh, you never really love someone until you learn to forgive…” – Ben&Ben, ‘Leaves’

Have you ever had to forgive someone?

Have you ever needed to be forgiven?

What does forgiveness mean to you?

There is no true, lasting peace without forgiveness.

While forgiveness doesn’t excuse one from the consequences of his or her wrongdoing, forgiveness transforms one’s perspective from victim to victor.

Forgiveness is a gift deeply sought yet not as easily and freely given. Nor is the need for it readily recognized.

It is only when we see the depth of our selfishness and wretchedness can we be truly grateful for another person’s sacrifice on our behalf.

Please bear with me. I do not want to guilt-trip anyone nor sound high and mighty. Figuratively speaking, I’m just as bad as the next criminal on death row.

While the pursuit of holiness, of purity in my inmost being, has become a daily thing for me, it wasn’t always the case.

It wasn’t until my heart understood the depravity of sin that I started taking a U-turn towards God’s design for my life.

I was the woman caught in adultery.

I was the woman at the well, never married but had several husbands.

I was the lame man who missed several opportunities to be healed because nobody helped me get to the water when it stirred.

I was the blind man, who called out His name so I could see.

And, by grace, I’m the Samaritan leper who came back to thank Him.

He forgave me even WHILE I was – and still am – a sinner.

He gave his life as a ransom for mine.

He shed his blood on the Cross to wash my scarlet robes.

He took each whip, each insult, on my behalf.

Oh, how much like heaven would earth be if we each admitted our dire need to receive forgiveness from the One who gave His all, once and for all? And then, just as freely as we receive it, we freely give it away?

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 BSB
https://bible.com/bible/3034/rom.5.8.BSB

Father God, please help me to freely love and forgive others, just as You have loved and forgiven me. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.

“Your value is not in your usefulness.”

I first learned about J. S. Park thru a typewritten quote.

Chaplain and author J.S. Park’s posts resonate with me in a way that is neither hardcore nor lukewarm. His posts remind me of my humanity and how I can love people exactly for who they are, where they are, beyond any biases.

“Your value is not in your usefulness.” J.S. Park

The Crown

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
I found the answer to this in a dream.

I had a dream… I went to the Ms. Universe screening. There were a lot of candidates.

Everybody was waiting for instructions.

Then the ladies started dressing up. They said we should choose a dress. There was no official announcement but the ladies simply started preparing.

I went to the dressing room. I saw a blue dress that I liked. As I tried it on in front of the mirror, I heard Mama’s voice “Not that one, it makes you look older.”

So I returned the blue dress. All the ladies kept getting dresses, even the blue one that I liked.

Until only one dress was left. A white one. I saw it and I smiled. I liked it. It was simple yet elegant. I put it on.

I checked the stage to see whose turn it was. I lost my turn. So I’ll end up last because the screening was continual.

I would’ve been 2nd. The one ahead of me was a Korean-looking Filipina who resembled Sandara Park.

Then I chatted with another lady. I said, “Our essence is in our beauty.”

Then I saw how many candidates were there. There was just too many!

I told the lady I was chatting with, “I like how they organized it this time. Cluster by cluster. Before, it was too crowded and the lines were too long.”

Then I asked the Korean-looking girl, “Are you done?”

She replied curtly, “I’m not finished yet.”

Then there was an announcement. “Pack up!”

Many girls reacted and expressed their disbelief. Why did it end so soon? Many ladies haven’t been screened yet.

But I didn’t join the commotion. I was chill.

I was quiet. Relaxed. Calm. In my mind I said, “What a waste.”

When everything got quiet and there were no more people, I went up to the stage, still wearing the white dress.

I practiced walking. I started giving a speech.

“We must be careful that when we lend our voices to the voiceless, that we don’t lose our own. We must be bold enough to stand up for the truth, and speak it, even when it hurts. We respect the dignity of every human being when we lovingly remind them of God’s design.”
#becomingBubba, March 7, 2023

The stage lit up again! There were a lot of people! Applause! Then I was crowned.

“Receive your crown. Wear it high. You earned it.”

Then I woke up.