Words of Hope: The Forgiveness Journey- Part One
Forgiveness is the willingness to start a journey by faith with the hope what currently feels impossible will become possible.
We often drove to Edmonton, Alberta, from Spokane when Shann and I were newly married. This long road trip afforded us hours of meaningful conversation. We began talking about death during a particularly dull stretch of highway, specifically about our parents’ death. I immediately began to cry, thinking about my parents dying. Shann watched me in utter surprise. He said, “I don’t think I would even cry at my parents’ funeral.”
“What!” I said. “There is something seriously wrong with you!”
“I have love for my Mom and Dad, but I just don’t cry. I don’t have any sadness or emotion when I think about them dying,” he said.
“Pull over,” I commanded. “Shann, this is more serious than you imagine. I think you are bitter toward your parents.”
“I disagree,” he replied. “I don’t feel any bitterness at all.”
“Well, it’s not right,” I said.
Shann and I met with my Dad, and Shann explained he didn’t have any emotion thinking about his parents dying and didn’t feel he would have any emotion when they died. After a lengthy conversation, my Dad concurred Shann possibly had unconscious bitterness muting his natural emotions.
My Dad led Shann on a forgiveness journey. Shann fully trusted my Dad because my Dad had shared his own difficult journey with him. Getting to witness my Dad helping Shann forgive his father and his family has been one of the best journeys of my life.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. … And the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:9
