Colossians 3:12-17 ~ as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive

Colossians 3:12-17 ~ (New Revised Standard Version)

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


Have you had to forgive someone for causing the death of someone you love? We, as a family, forgave a nursing home caregiver for throwing open a steel exit door in anger, not knowing Grandmother was on the other side of the door and breaking our mother/grandmother’s shoulder. Grandmother died from the injury, she was 93. Grandmother had an amazing passing, full of the peace, going home with her beloved FatherGod. She was 93 and death is not unexpected. The caregiver wept and wept, meeting with us twice, to be forgiven. It wasn’t difficult to forgive an act of carelessness; without malice to Grandmother, the caregiver had really enjoyed Grandmother and was her friend. She wept harder hearing Grandmother forgave her and wasn’t angry. Grandmother dreamed many times of being reunited with family and her husband, gone for 50 years, Grandmother didn’t spend a minute being angry.

My father’s passing was a different matter. It’s complicated. His second wife knew a downward spiral was occuring and was, perhaps, tired of her marriage. The funeral photos looked like a christening or wedding photo, with the faces filled with joy of the step family. As I questioned family members, it became apparent with more help, his death might have been avoided. My grief turned into the most amazing rage. I never knew these violent emotions even could exist. No apology would ever come from the woman who now hailed my father, after his death, as the love of her life. She married again, for the 3rd time, within months of his death.

Years before my dad died, I had attended a Bible study on forgiveness. The Bible doesn’t record the sons of Israel asking forgiveness for telling Israel Joseph had died from being mauled and actually selling him into slavery. Israel grieved for his son for many, many years. Forgiveness needs to occur even when an apology is not ever going to arrive. As Israel died, after discovering the needless years of suffering and the deception of his sons, he blessed his sons, giving each the blessing appropriate to them. Israel died at peace and filled with hope. He wasn’t unrealistic in his forgiveness, but peace filled him.

I have found a willingness to forgive is the first step in forgiveness. Time helps to allow forgiveness to grow. I asked God in the name of Jesus to allow my rage not to conquer me. I pictured living water flowing over me as I prayed. I asked for forgiveness when my forgiveness didn’t grow and placed my heart in God’s hands. The pictured living water of God was my best defense. Today, I able to understand my dad’s responsibility and regret my dad’s wife’s choices. I am at peace. I have forgiven. Because the Lord helped me, and with His grace, I know I am forgiven. Thank God.



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