I keep bumping into this; a single event defining the future. I’ve had my share of crap heaped high on me. That does not define me, or the person who shovelled it. Sometimes it was malice that urged them on. More often they “didn’t know what they were doing”.

My choice is freedom.

Past crap will not hold me prisoner in the past. The fact of the matter is that I still have a “bit” to unload, but handful by handful the load gets lighter.

Do you remember one event through which you view yourself or another person? Then you are its prisoner.

Forgiveness frees the victim/survivor. It releases you from the bondage to another because of their action. It frees them from the avenging attitude you may have carried. Besides, if you can love (in the sense of deep, caring compassion tinged with empathy) only those who love you, what makes you any better than anybody else? Aren’t you better than one-dimensional memories? Forgive them to freedom!

“Do for other people everything you want them to do for you. If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Even sinners love those who love them. If you help those who help you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners do that too. If you lend anything to those from whom you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners also lend to sinners to get back what they lend. Rather, love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward. You will be the children of the Most High God. After all, he is kind to unthankful and evil people. Be merciful as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:31-36 God’s Word©).