By Holly L Wilson
Forgiveness has positive consequences not just for the life after death but also for one's life now. Forgiveness results in happiness. It leads to a fulfilled life. Forgiveness eliminates emotions of anger, hatred, and antagonism and results in emotions of peace, gratitude and joy instead. Such emotions leave us contented. Emotions of anger, hatred, and antagonism leave us feeling unhappy and distressed. So forgiveness has positive consequences for this life
Jesus taught his apostles how to pray and the "Our Father" comprised the words: "forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors" (Matt 6:12). He went on to say that if they failed to forgive others, then they also would not be forgiven. If they did not forgive, they would not be given admittance into heaven. Still, doesn't it make sense to say that not forgiving also causes unhappiness in this life? Reflect on the case of a person who refuses to forgive. They begrudge forgiveness, and since they do, they continue to be angry that some harm as occurred. They go on to cultivate their anger and repeat over and over the harm that someone has done. They feel like a victim. They must also maintain the emotion of hostility toward the person who occasioned the hurt, until they are able to revenge themselves. Getting revenge may not even be an option, and so they are not able to get justice and experience frustration in addition to anger.
I have a relative who was kicked out of his home when he was an adolescent just after his father passed away. His step-mother used her lawyer to shove him out the door. Even though things worked out for him because he was able to stay with his married sister, he maintained hatred toward the attorney who gave him the news. After he had returned from the service, he happened to pass this attorney on the street and immediately hit him and put him down a manhole to retaliate. Even though an officer of the law was there to see this, he allowed this out of pity for my relative's hurt. My relative loves to repeat this story since it shows how he got justice. But getting justice was not always the result of the harms he endured in his life. He developed a habit of holding grudges against others whom he feel made him into a victim. He never sees himself as someone who harms others since he always feels justified in his anger. Still he is a very unhappy human being who doesn't have any
friends because he thinks he is better than other people.
On the contrary, my mother, who experienced the same thing when she was a girl, responded with forgiveness. She didn't hold onto a grudge and didn't develop a habit of responding to slights with anger with grudge holding. She was grateful that her sister had taken her in and had helped pay for her college. She decided to be grateful while her brother chose to be resentful. She now has many friends, gets along with people, and has empathy for others who also suffer. As a result, she has peace of mind and experiences joy knowing that she is forgiven by God for any of her failings.
Jesus required that people forgive others and unforgiveness is not an option for Christians. Still forgiving others and showing them mercy is not easy. This is helpful advice I received from my friend Steve Brown of Key Life. When it isn't easy to forgive, you can admit to God how you really feel and that you don't feel like forgiving. Then ask him to make it a contract with you to change your disposition, and give it up to him. Forgiving doesn't then happen immediately, but gradually by being faithful in prayer for the person, your disposition will become one of compassion. The emotions of hurt and resentment gradually fade away. The feelings of victimization disappear and the rage turns into an honest evaluation of other person while a more accurate picture of the hurt emerges. We often think we are harmed more than we really are. In the end, it is possible to watch God turn what appears as bad thing into something good. After awhile, peaceful and joyous feelings replace
the anger and you will think something good rather than bad has happened to you. This results in happiness.
About the Author:
Learn more about Jesus Christ (http://1keytolife.com/) . Stop by Holly L Wilson's site where you can find out all about forgiveness (http://1keytolife.com/key-to-life-2/forgiveness-is-the-key-to-happiness.html) and what it can do for you.
Forgiveness has positive consequences not just for the life after death but also for one's life now. Forgiveness results in happiness. It leads to a fulfilled life. Forgiveness eliminates emotions of anger, hatred, and antagonism and results in emotions of peace, gratitude and joy instead. Such emotions leave us contented. Emotions of anger, hatred, and antagonism leave us feeling unhappy and distressed. So forgiveness has positive consequences for this life
Jesus taught his apostles how to pray and the "Our Father" comprised the words: "forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors" (Matt 6:12). He went on to say that if they failed to forgive others, then they also would not be forgiven. If they did not forgive, they would not be given admittance into heaven. Still, doesn't it make sense to say that not forgiving also causes unhappiness in this life? Reflect on the case of a person who refuses to forgive. They begrudge forgiveness, and since they do, they continue to be angry that some harm as occurred. They go on to cultivate their anger and repeat over and over the harm that someone has done. They feel like a victim. They must also maintain the emotion of hostility toward the person who occasioned the hurt, until they are able to revenge themselves. Getting revenge may not even be an option, and so they are not able to get justice and experience frustration in addition to anger.
I have a relative who was kicked out of his home when he was an adolescent just after his father passed away. His step-mother used her lawyer to shove him out the door. Even though things worked out for him because he was able to stay with his married sister, he maintained hatred toward the attorney who gave him the news. After he had returned from the service, he happened to pass this attorney on the street and immediately hit him and put him down a manhole to retaliate. Even though an officer of the law was there to see this, he allowed this out of pity for my relative's hurt. My relative loves to repeat this story since it shows how he got justice. But getting justice was not always the result of the harms he endured in his life. He developed a habit of holding grudges against others whom he feel made him into a victim. He never sees himself as someone who harms others since he always feels justified in his anger. Still he is a very unhappy human being who doesn't have any
friends because he thinks he is better than other people.
On the contrary, my mother, who experienced the same thing when she was a girl, responded with forgiveness. She didn't hold onto a grudge and didn't develop a habit of responding to slights with anger with grudge holding. She was grateful that her sister had taken her in and had helped pay for her college. She decided to be grateful while her brother chose to be resentful. She now has many friends, gets along with people, and has empathy for others who also suffer. As a result, she has peace of mind and experiences joy knowing that she is forgiven by God for any of her failings.
Jesus required that people forgive others and unforgiveness is not an option for Christians. Still forgiving others and showing them mercy is not easy. This is helpful advice I received from my friend Steve Brown of Key Life. When it isn't easy to forgive, you can admit to God how you really feel and that you don't feel like forgiving. Then ask him to make it a contract with you to change your disposition, and give it up to him. Forgiving doesn't then happen immediately, but gradually by being faithful in prayer for the person, your disposition will become one of compassion. The emotions of hurt and resentment gradually fade away. The feelings of victimization disappear and the rage turns into an honest evaluation of other person while a more accurate picture of the hurt emerges. We often think we are harmed more than we really are. In the end, it is possible to watch God turn what appears as bad thing into something good. After awhile, peaceful and joyous feelings replace
the anger and you will think something good rather than bad has happened to you. This results in happiness.
About the Author:
Learn more about Jesus Christ (http://1keytolife.com/) . Stop by Holly L Wilson's site where you can find out all about forgiveness (http://1keytolife.com/key-to-life-2/forgiveness-is-the-key-to-happiness.html) and what it can do for you.