Forgiveness

Do you ever find it sometimes hard to forgive someone? Why is it so hard to forgive them? God has a perfect love for each one of us. He loves us so much that he will forgive us even if we kill and mock him. When we love someone it is easier to forgive him or her.

I read a story about a woman who forgave someone that had hurt her very badly.

“How would you feel toward a teenager who decided to toss a 20-pound [9-kg] frozen turkey from a speeding car headlong into the windshield of the car you were driving? How would you feel after enduring six hours of surgery using metal plates and other hardware to piece your face together? …

“… The victim, Victoria Ruvolo, … was more interested in salvaging the life of her 19-year-old assailant [attacker], Ryan Cushing, than in … revenge. … She insisted on offering him a plea deal. Cushing could serve six months in the county jail and be on probation for five years if he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault.

“Had he been convicted of first-degree assault—the charge most fitting for the crime—he could have served 25 years in prison. …

“According to an account in the New York Post, Cushing … made his way to where Ruvolo sat in the courtroom and tearfully whispered an apology. ‘I’m so sorry for what I did to you.’

“Ruvolo then stood, and the victim and her assailant embraced, weeping. She stroked his head and patted his back as he sobbed, and witnesses … heard her say, ‘It’s OK. I just want you to make your life the best it can be.’” Forgiveness, Gordon B. Hinckley, October2005 

This lady loved him and forgave him. She could have chosen not to, but she did. The Lord could have chosen to just have us go down and suffer for our own sins, but he has so much mercy that he suffered for us. He does not want us to suffer for our own sins, but if we do not repent then we get to suffer for our own sins.

God cannot forgive us if we do not forgive others. “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” 3 Nephi 13:15 We need to forgive everyone.

Here is a parable that teaches that we need to forgive others if we want to be forgiven:

  

23 “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Matthew 18:23-35 

If we do not forgive others then we will not be forgiven. We will have to suffer our debt ourselves. We cannot pay God back for what he has done. We are eternally indebted to the Lord.

“I say unto you, that there are not any among you, except it be your little children that have not been taught concerning these things, but what knoweth that ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all that you have and are; and also have been taught concerning the records which contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy prophets, even down to the time our father, Lehi, left Jerusalem;” Mosiah 2:34

How do you truly forgive? I think that if we love the person then it will be easier to forgive him or her. If we love a lot then we will be forgiven a lot.  “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” Luke 7:47 God is very willing to forgive us if we forgive others.

By Rachel age 13