Near Lidice, the town razed by the Nazis, the Children of Czechia invited the children of Germany to plant a rose garden. Fifty-one counties sent roses for them to plant, over 100,000 roses.  

What am I bitter about right now? How wicked it seems to hold this bitterness when others have forgiven so much! I picture standing before the throne of God with a cup of poison representing my bitterness in my hand. I want to explain why holding this poison has been important. I want to explain the hurt and the anger. Is the poison held to hurl at someone? Is it held to give proof? 

Can I imagine instead Jesus taking the poison and handing me a rose. Do I want to fling poison, or do I want to plant a rosebud?

It is truly that simple. My bitterness only grows in complexity when I fixate on the story of my hurt. When I focus on the suffering of others who have forgiven so much more, I find the exchange easy. 

‘And forgive us our sins even as we forgive all who are indebted to us, and do not lead us into temptation, but save us from The Evil One.’” – Luke 11:4