Forgiving Compassion!!
“I am not free from anger - the flames of ire erupt occasionally - but two things happen.”
“First, I know a little more about who I am. Second, because I know and realize God has forgiven me, I can also reach out to those who spew vermon and scream. I’ll tell you the reason I can do that: I know they’re hurting, and anger is one way to cover your hurt.”
“Only as we recognize our own weaknesses - and accept them - can we open up to others and forgive their failures.
The above quotes come from my friend Cecil Murphey’s book “Committed But Flawed” pages 90-91.
I can identify with the issue of anger, that everytime I think I have it under control, it will erupt at the most inappropriate times. It brings things to the surface and like Cecil it made me realize a little more about myself. To realize that there is yet work to be done as I go through the refiners fire.
And second, like Cecil, I know and realize God has forgiven me so that I too can reach out to those who are hurting, who are dealing with pain. Whether from illness, from death or divorce and as Cecil shared, anger is one of the ways of covering up the hurt.
Only as we recognize our weaknesses and accept them can we open up to others, to forgive them, that we will have compassion to reach out to those who hurt and need compassion because we have experienced the compassion of the Lord ourselves.
Given out of what has been given us is very important. Sharing the love and grace of the Lord. Sharing His compassion and forgiveness to us, not only helps others, it also continues to bring healing and forgiveness to us.
In forgiving others, we learn to forgive ourselves and sometimes that is the hardest thing to do but when we do, we are set free and we begin to understand the compassion of the Lord even more.
Till later,
Paul