I was thinking about forgiveness today. I had been listening to several stories this week about people who are mad at someone else. It reminded me that everyone needs forgiveness. Life is too short to live it mad, and when you are mad with someone, your life is out of sorts. I wrote a few years ago about the day that Virginia and I had a disagreement. We woke up grumpy, had been very busy, and had a lot on our plate. What set the fire burning was one of those little tags they staple to your clothing at the cleaners. I pulled the tag off and dropped it on the floor instead of putting it in the garbage can. Virginia said something that was not very nice to say to the preacher, so I responded in a less than preacherly way. So I leave mad. No hug and no “I love you.” Driving to church I was feeling righteous indignation about how poorly I had just been treated by my wife. I stewed. I get to church, and I can’t focus on my devotional reading. I tried to pray and that didn’t work. I was out of sorts. I had to settle it. I called her and said I was sorry for acting like a jerk, and she said, “Thank you. You were a jerk, but then so was I. I am sorry, too.” Instantly, my day was better. That is the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is so sweet. Settle things before they go too far.
– Dr. Tim Thompson