A Lifestyle of ForgivenessSample

DAY FOUR – PRACTICING FORGIVENESS 

How do we get better at something? We have to practice. To get better at playing the piano, we have to practice. To get better at giving speeches, we have to do it more. To get better at playing any kind of sport, we have to practice. 

I think it’s the same with forgiveness. The more we practice, the better we get at it. And if we practice forgiving the small things — the little daily irritations — then I’m pretty sure that we’re more ready to forgive when big hurts come along. Then we can walk away from the hurt with barely a scratch on us. Which means we can live in freedom and keep our blessing pipe flowing all the time. I believe that’s how God wants us to live, and he’s empowered us to forgive instantly, without a second thought about it. 

I’ll give you an example of one I’m working on. Slow drivers in the left lane. I live in a city, and most of the time there are two lanes for traffic. Why do the slow drivers insist on clogging up the left lane? I’m in a hurry here, people! Yet I have a choice. I can drive behind them, impatient and irritated, talking to them and about them (“Hey buddy, are you the only one on the road? Are you paying any attention at all? Move over!”), or I can bless and forgive them. 

Because really, does my impatience do any good? Or does it just make my blood pressure go up and feed my habit of unforgiveness? (Ouch). Variations of this pet peeve include drivers in general (turning without using blinkers, driving with a blinker permanently on, tailgaters, those who can’t read signs, etc.) or slow people walking five abreast in an airport concourse so no one else can get by (not that it’s ever happened to me, of course). Forgive them, Lord. Bless them.