Forgiveness Frees You

Dear friends,

The other day I was talking to a friend who told me a story how he was betrayed by a friend of his at work. They have discussed private things, and soon after, the whole office knew about it. My friend told me, he knew who said it, and he went straight to his friend and told him bad things in front of everyone, what a terrible person he was. His friend knew what he did, he didn’t say a word back. These two became enemies and everyone took the side of the one who was betrayed. 

Time passed and during a Christmas party, the two enemies met at the party. The friend who was betrayed, came to the one betrayed him, all smiling as if he forgot all that happened between them, he hugged him and said to him, “How nice to see you! I am really happy to see you.” 

My friend told me that he hugged him back and to his big surprise, he felt a huge luggage lifting from his shoulders, even though he pretended not to feel anything. He told me, “I didn’t forget what he has done to me, but I felt really good, I felt peace, I felt free, I felt like the anger I felt just disappeared.”

What touched me was that even though this friend was right, even though he was the one betrayed, he felt the joy to forgive. You see holding a grudge hurts and it doesn’t make things any better if you have a good reason or not. Seek to forgive always and to be forgiven. Jesus taught us a huge lesson when He said, “Pray for those who hate you. Love your enemies…” At first, you think, “Love them when they hate me? Pray for them when they are persecuting me?” I can understand how that might sound like it doesn’t make sense, but it works all the time! 

Our Lady of Kibeho once said, “When you pray for your enemies, you are snatching them out of the hands of the devil who influences them. You weaken their power to hurt you and others.” If you are angry with a friend, a family member, find a way to make peace and if you have hurt somebody, find a way to apologize, it will only work for your own good. One sincere, action of love can change things around. 

Rooting for you,  

Immaculee