Teach me to forgive,

B-Ray · #1 12-22-2002, 12:12 AM

Recieved via e-mail

This is well written.

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was
walking in the woods.
As he thought about his life this day, he knew many
things were not right.
He thought about those who had lied about him back when
he had a job.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and
cheated him.
He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the
illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with
anger, resentment and frustration.
* Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not
find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old
oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there, and with tears
in his eyes, he prayed
" Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You
have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you
have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know
how. It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done
against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is
Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My
anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you
teach me to do this one thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive.
* As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt
something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the
corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn
to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large
square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet
held to the wood with a large spike through them. He raised his head
more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He
saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body,
deep thorns sunk into His head.
Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As
their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to
speak.
** Have you ever told a lie, he asked?
** The man answered - yes Lord.
** Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?
** The man answered yes Lord. And the man sobbed more and more.
** Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours, Jesus
asked?
** And the man answered yes Lord.
** Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?
** The man, crying now, answered yes Lord.
** As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying
became uncontrollable, for he could only answer yes Lord.
* Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and
the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw
that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met
those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or
known before. Jesus said, I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive
you.
* It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but
when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is Read
the first line slowly and let it sink in. This is simple, and important.
Read on....This first line is deep.
* If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. Lord I love
You and I need You, come into my heart, Today. For without You I can do
nothing.