If you were living during the Vietnam War, it is quite possible that you remember a picture of Kim Phuc, a nine year-old Vietnamese girl who, in the horror of war, was almost killed when napalm started falling on her village from a plane flown reportedly by a South Vietnamese pilot. The picture that was flashed around the world showed the child, running naked with outstretched arms, hoping to escape the horror of the napalm that was burning her skin. The pilot thought the village had been abandoned by all civilians.
Kim Phuc survived the attack after multiple surgeries. But though she recovered physically, her heart was full of anger. The physical pain required treatment decades after she survived the body burns, but she later testified that the psychological, emotional and spiritual pain, living as the “Napalm girl,” was even greater. She said, though, that “My faith in Jesus Christ is what has enabled me to forgive those who had wronged us, no matter how severe those wrongs were.”
Walter Everett, a Methodist pastor in Connecticut, experienced the ultimate test of forgiveness. His son had been slain by another man, who was convicted of man slaughter. The pastor let it be known that he had forgiven his son’s killer, explaining that “people won’t be able to understand why Jesus came and what Jesus is all about unless we forgive.” End of story? No. The convict accepted Christ while in prison. When he was released and wanted to be married, Pastor Everett performed the ceremony. (copied, Our Daily Bread)
An unknown author celebrated the power of forgiveness when he penned the following lines:
Not far from New York is a cemetery lone,
Close guarding its grave stands a simple headstone;
And all the inscription is one word alone—“FORGIVEN.”
No sculptor’s fine art hath embellished its form,
But constantly there, through the calm and the storm,
It beareth this word from a poor fallen worm: “FORGIVEN.”
The death is unmentioned, the name is untold;
Beneath lies the body, corrupted and cold;
Above rests his spirit, at home in the fold—“FORGIVEN.”
And when, from the heavens, the Lord shall descend,
This stranger shall rise and to Glory ascend,
Well-known and befriended, to sing without end: “FORGIVEN.”
Essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson said of Abraham Lincoln: “His heart was as great as the world, but there was no room in it for the memory of a wrong.”
English preacher Charles Spurgeon gives this advice: “Cultivate forbearance till your heart yields a fine crop of it. Pray for a short memory as to unkindness.” (Rev. David Currens)
A story is told of William Gladstone, who, when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer in England, once relied on the calculations of a trusted clerk in a budget speech before the House of Commons. Unfortunately, the clerk had made some critical miscalculations, which made Gladstone the object of ridicule. Gladstone sent for the clerk, who anticipated being fired. But instead, the statesman said to the embarrassed clerk, “I sent for you because I could imagine the torture of your feelings. You have been for many years dealing with bewildering intricacies of the national accounts, and you have done your job with exactness…. It was because of your splendid record that I did not trouble to verify your calculations. I have sent for you to compliment you on that record and to set you at ease.”
Part of forgiving is determining not to seek revenge. Here is a test that was once posed: “Imagine that you are given a choice to: (a) torment for all eternity those who have harmed you the most: the one who sexually abused you, your unfaithful spouse, the date rapist, the drunk driver who killed your child, your abusive parent, or (b) see them brought to brokenness and to their knees before the God who has been so kind to you. Which would you choose?”
Jesus told about two servants who illustrated the need for forgiveness. One had been forgiven by his master a huge sum, but he would not in turn forgive one of his debtors a relatively small sum. Rather, he had him thrown into prison until the debt was paid. Jesus said that the master of the wicked servant who had been forgiven so much–yet was unforgiving of a small amount–upon hearing of this injustice, was wroth and had the wicked servant delivered to the tormentors until all that he owed was paid. (Matt.18:23-35)
“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (Matt.18:35)
“And forgive us out debts as we forgive our debtors.” (Matt.6:12)
YOU and GOD 