I’ve been thinking about forgiveness lately.  There are times when I can mentally forgive someone and feel pretty pious.  But later, should the issue cross my mind again, I feel angry.  In which case, I don’t think I have actually forgiven the person.  Something new I’m trying when that happens is to say, “Here God, You take the anger.  Here God, You take the unforgiveness, because I don’t want it.”  

Unfortunately, so many times we want to hold onto unforgiveness and anger like it was our favorite chocolate bar.  It’s rich, sweet smell tickles our olfactory senses, and melts so smoothly on our tastebuds.   Our mind floats away on a cloud of theobromine induced euphoria.  Life is wonderful until the fateful day we step on the scale.  The chocolate euphoria dissipates and we come crashing back down to earth.  The consequences of eating too many chocolate bars stares us in the face.  Gorging ourselves into unthinking oblivion wasn’t such a great idea.  Neither is holding onto that unforgiveness and anger.  Revenge can seem so sweet, until it comes back and leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.  Ephesians 4:32 tells us to, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” 

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”  Proverbs 19:11 ESV

 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  Matthew 5:44 ESV