Good morning my friend,
Let’s have a chat, grab a cup of tea, become quiet and give ourselves a moment to ponder the above scripture. Another translation says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger along with every form of malice.” Three times, count them, three times this week, once in a class I am taking, another time in a sermon I was listening to, and, oh my gosh, it popped up right there in the text on the page of the book I am currently reading. Not once, but three times, God spoke loudly. I have been pondering my life and where this scripture applies. Holding onto past hurts, past mistakes, anxious and fearful thoughts, etc. clutters the mind and spirit. We can become a prisoner of own thoughts. And the burdens of these emotions are heavy weights to carry. Wouldn’t it be much easier, dear one, to just lay those burdens down? We can’t live life constantly looking into the rearview mirror. We can’t put our lives in reverse and get a do-over. But we can move forward.
And while we are letting go of our mistakes and forgiving ourselves, wouldn’t it be such a relief to cut others some slack? Forgive all that unresolved stuff from the past and move on. Drop the burdens you have been carrying. You can stand taller, walk faster toward your own destiny without all of the stuff: resentment, anger, jealousy, and bitterness weighing you down. Forgive as quickly as God forgives us. And God remembers our sins no more. Let’s enjoy today. Find joy in this very moment. It’s easier than you might think to let go. Trust that always God gives you and others a clean slate, a fresh start, a safe place to begin again. Love this gospel message. Hope you do also. Linda