by Peter M. Lopez
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14 (NIV)
As a criminal defense lawyer, I often plead with jurors who are angry, scared, nervous, and frustrated to be merciful to someone who has committed a horrible crime. However, if a case has reached the point where I’m pleading for mercy, mercy will probably be trumped by the emotions described above.
Sometimes similar scenarios occur at home. Last summer, my wife and I had a fight. I was wrong. It took a while, but I finally did ask for her forgiveness. Mercy was…well, trumped by emotions. After a few merciless days, I became unmerciful myself.
As I worked in the yard that Saturday morning, my mind was flooded: “I already admitted I was wrong! I asked for forgiveness! I confessed and repented! What more was I supposed to do?”
It wasn’t long before I managed to convince myself that her crime of unforgiveness was now worse than my original crime. I had climbed the summit of self-righteousness, and the view was good.
Ironically, at that very moment, with chest puffed out and my temper at its peak, I felt the most remarkable feeling: a great big ol’ hug from God. No pat on the back, high five, or chest bump. No bitter words, harsh rebukes, or chastisements, just a great big ol’ hug. As only God can do, He showed me how wrong I was, and all He did was give me a hug.
I broke down. In my backyard.
I know I was forgiven when I had confessed to God days earlier, but I did not feel forgiven until I myself needed to forgive. It was a valuable lesson, taught with nothing more than a hug. Is there anyone in your life you need to forgive?
