A life for a life - I 've been watching the Casey Anthony trial..it's made me think about the people who hurt me....who did things that caused me to slip so far down into darkness that all I wanted....was to let go.....and let the darkness have its way.
For a long time I hated those people....I wanted them to suffer....and feel the burn like I did.
Hate consumed me. It caused me turn on myself...punishing myself for what they had done.
It took me a long time to realize.....hating them hurt me.....not them. It kept me locked in darkness.... punching the air....and slipping further down.
The touch of His gentleness made the difference. It showed me.....love, kindness, forgiveness frees in ways that nothing else can. I knew force, threats, fear....this was different. Kindness softened my heart...gentleness quieted the rage...love dissolved the hate.
A life for a life - I didn't get what I deserved. Instead...I was shown mercy and given a chance to live free.
A life for a life - I don't want those who hurt me to die.....I just don't want them to ever hurt anyone else. And as long as they have breath....there's a chance they might even turn their lives around.
A life for a life - His for mine.....gave me the freedom I desperately wanted.
A life for a life - it's already been done
23 comments:
Forgiveness is really powerful and sometimes hard to come by. I think fostering hate for other people just makes us angrier at ourselves-- at least for me, when I'm angry at someone else, I just turn things inward. And that helps no one.
Wishing you well,
NOS
hatred festers inside and only creates more hatred and ugliness and eventually eats us up.
a way has been provided
"A life for a life - it's already been done"
Amen!
much love to you with thankfulness for where He has brought you!
Abuse is such a terrible thing. Learning to forgive sometimes takes time. I am working on it. I am glad Jesus has no problem with forgiveness.
The first Scripture that the Lord had given me when my faith had grown more was Ephesians 6:10...To be strong in His mighty power. And as I walk closer with Him, I fully know now that it is by His strength and might that we can learn to stand up for what is right and do what is right.. While when in our own strength, we would have wanted a different outcome. God bless.
This really spoke to me about situations in my life
You are right, and thank you
What an amazing post, how true too...I always say that when we hate or hold grudges it's like having poison and being the one who drinks it...
Thank you for sharing this!
xo
Forgiveness is so powerful. I so understand that even in the midst of God redeeming damage from our early years that some times He allows sorrow to rise up again....sorrow for what was that led to this "me" that is on a constant journey with Him. But it brought me to Him. The life changed by abuse is redeemable but it is quite a journey. It is an ongoing process embracing the freedom that is mine. So full of grace and mercy our God....and YES the abusers can be set free themselves. His love does not make sense to human logic...but it is so sweet.
Oh, amen! I LOVED your ending words especially...
I can relate to this. In my head I know it and try to fight it, hate does harm. And yet it creeps in in the weakest moments and digs a hole before I can overcome it.
Praying for strength and peace.
take it easy Sarah.
Very wise observations, Sarah.
Everyone faces the choice at one time or another to hold bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. As you discovered, those negative emotions only plunge us further into trouble.
P.S. Off topic. I answered your question about Swagbucks on my blog and gave you my email if you want to know more. :)
Hatred is such a powerful emotion yet forgiveness conquers it every time. Thank you for the reminder.
Amen to your post! His gentleness and love also enabled me to turn my life around. His forgiveness makes all the difference. Hopefully, this tragic young woman can find it.
This is powerful, Nikki.
Indeed love is more powerful than hatred.
Hate is such a destructive force but love is a constructive force, rebuilding where hate has torn and ripped apart.Yes, "forgiveness frees in ways that nothing else can."
Forgiveness opens the prison door to set free the one you had imprisoned through hate, and you discover the prisoner was you!
So you are right, forgiveness sets you free ... to live life in its fullness, no longer as a slave to anger and bitterness, but as a freeman.
Thank you for sharing your journey of healing. God has been speaking to me about gentleness these past days. Your words here confirm what God has been saying to me.
Love to you, Nikki...
Lidj
I cannot imagine what it took for you to forgive these people who hurt you so much. But, you realized the valuable truth - bitterness only hurts the heart that holds the bitterness.
His life is the only one that could buy us such complete freedom.
GOD BLESS!
Powerful post! I loved how you tied in Martin Luther's quote "Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. "
I can not even point out WHEN I had forgiven myself. It simply happened. Ever since the people who hurt me have lost all their importance to me. It was simply over. Simply over! Much love to you!
Nikki, YOU are light. I love you, my sweet friend!
xoxo
Forgiveness is something that I am constantly working towards. I hope one day that I can be as forgiving as you!
Wow, the end of your post gave me chills. Beautifully said, as always. You have such a gift for taking something horrible and turning it into something beautiful. A gift, truly.
there is no peace in hate. There can never be. I don't know if forgiveness is always possible, but I do know it is possible not to hate.
Hi Sarah, beautiful soul,
You have written a wonderful post this day, sweetheart.
I just love your blog so much!!
I follow your blog with joy in my heart to realize how beautiful your soul is. There is much wisdom coming out of your heart.
This day you talk about, A life for a life. Well, that was called, The Talyon Law, in the old times.
Or an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life, which means if someone kills, he should die. Well, there are lots of point of views in this mortal world. Hypocrats never say what their hearts hold for real. Your story reminds me of my ols stories about my foes and my enemies. Telling you the truth, I wanted them all dead. They hurt me so badly, in fact, they almost killed me. God rescued me and my soul. Praise the Lord!! I shall praise Him forever. I am alive, because Jesus saved me with His unconditional love. I am so grateful. Now, I dedicate my life to serve the Lord. I am a humble servant, a messenger for our dear Lord, Jesus Christ.
God may bless you, Sarah, and all those you love, sweetheart!!
Love definetely heals broken lives!! We all love you, Sarah!!
In God's Garden,
Poet Starry Dawn.
Vey powerful. I too followed the trial and sometimes I feel things like this happen because there are forces out there that want us to hate and turn away from God. I don't understand why she was let go, but perhaps it is not for us to know.
"It kept me locked in darkness.... punching the air...." this line really spoke to me. how many times I have wallowed in that anger over being wronged and all it did was make me feel worse.
wonderful post!
Blessings, Joanne
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