718) Forgiveness is hard to compartmentalize. Is it a feeling? Is it a noun? Is it a set of steps that must be climbed? See what I mean? If you are unclear about this, as I was several years ago, you may be unclear of what forgiveness is and what it involves.

Forgiveness is the choice of letting go of your “fingers” around someone’s throat; putting down your “hands” that have been full of things such as anger, resentment, hurt, retaliation and more because you realize that in holding these things, it’s only burning a hole in your hands and not in the object of these thoughts and feelings.

Does forgiveness mean you are belittling what someone has done or said? Does it mean you let that person off the hook? No. Forgiveness has very little to do with this object of your inner turmoil. It is an action that you do for you. As for the one who has wronged you, God will take care of them. And besides, we are commanded to forgive. There is another thought about forgiveness that must be considered; have you learned to forgive yourself? Can you let go of your hands that are around your own throat? David understood why this is important. In 2 Samuel 22:24, he said, “I am been blameless before (God).” Wait a minute! This murdering, conniving adulterer is blameless? Yes, David knew that because he asked for God’s forgiveness, that he no longer had to beat himself up for his actions. With God, He does not need to drop His righteous “fingers” from around His children’s throat because if you are covered by Jesus’ blood, all is made right again. This is unfathomable forgiveness; an example we need to follow. There is freedom in forgiveness.