FORGIVE

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in thewoods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were notright. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. Heremembered family who had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had,that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment, andfrustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing allelse had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one heknew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed: 'Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have toldme to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed.

Today, you have told me toforgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is notfair Lord, I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and Ishouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing Icannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, Ifear I may not hear you, but I pray you teach me to do the one thing I cannotdo: Teach me to forgive.'

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt somethingfall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, hesaw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was becausewhere the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. Heraised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike throughthem. He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging ona cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and batteredbody, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain onHis precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, andJesus began to speak. 'Have you ever told a lie?' He asked?

The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.' 'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?' The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more. 'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?' Jesusasked? And the man answered, 'Yes, Lord.' 'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?' The man, crying now, answered - 'Yes, Lord.'

As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'? The man' s cryingbecame uncontrollable, for he could only answer - 'Yes, Lord'. Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man feltsomething fall on his other shoulder He looked and saw that it was the blood ofJesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was alook of love the man had never seen or known before.

Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you.' It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but whenyou look back in life, you realize how true this statement is. Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in. If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!