One minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Kings 15:25-17:24, Acts 10:24-48, Psalm 134:1-3, Proverbs 17:9-11
Daily Verse: “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” Prov. 17:9
Discretion in love.
Friendship requires the ability to forget. When someone offends us, we must learn to let it go and speak of it no longer. Ruminating about it and sharing the hurt with others will only make e things worse, alienating people and ending relationships.
Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, chose forgiveness. When a friend asked about a mean act done to her years before, the nurse responded, “I distinctly remember forgetting it.”
God allows us to choose how we respond and control our thoughts. Clara exercised her actions and mind by deliberately forgetting the offense, and we can too.
Full confession, I have damaged relationships because I couldn’t forget the offense. Entering the second half of my life, I’m working diligently not to do this anymore. My phone screensaver says, “Forgiveness is the conscious choice to give up your right to make the other person pay because you trust God to make things right.”
We must choose to forgive and trust God to handle the offense. By doing so, we will develop healthy, loving relationships.
Lord, forgive us for not letting go of offenses. Please help us forgive quickly, cover offenses, and love others well, trusting You with any hurts we have. Keep our hearts soft towards others. IJNIP. Amen
