The Forgiveness Box

 

Paul and I host a weekly small group from our church on Tuesday nights. We love this time of the week. No matter what life throws at us, hanging out with our new friends is a treat. Recently, we were discussing those people in our life who are difficult to love. 

I’m sure you have a few in your life, too. 

I shared about my struggle with someone in my life who is difficult to love. Apparently, my hurt and discouragement for not being able to let go of past hurts for very long inspired one of the gals in our group to share what helps her.

“Have you prayed for this person, Joanne?” She sweetly asked. “It helps me alot if I stop and pray for the person I’m struggling to love.” She went on, “I write down my prayers and put them in a box. Maybe that’s what you should do. Sometimes it helps to do something like that–an exercise.” She smiled. 

A box? Could I write down all my hurts and put them on paper? This box better be made of steel, hidden from the light of day and sealed with padlocks and crazy glue. I thought.

She was right. I wasn’t praying for this person. As a matter of fact, there were actually “persons” who I struggled with loving and forgiving. I wasn’t praying for any of them. I was only praying for my own hurts and complaining about them–over and over again to God.

The following week, she showed up with a beautiful gold decoupage box in hand.  Decorated with a heart, ribbon and a sparkly cross…I love it. She made it herself which makes it even more special. I am now using it to write down prayers and place them inside, an outward expression of releasing hurt while praying for them, too.

Sometimes doing something physical, a written exercise of sorts, makes a bigger impact on our heart.

How about making your own “Forgiveness Box” today? Or, maybe you have a jar with a lid that would work? That person who hurt you? The one who doesn’t seem to care about you? The one who says they love you but their actions say something entirely different? Yeah, that one…

Start writing down your prayers for them. Heap blessings on their life and watch and see what happens to your own. 

Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Psssst….one last thing. The gal who made me my own beautiful forgiveness box, she has a blog. And, she’s a very good writer. You might want to mosey on over there and check her out HERE.