Van Gogh had interesting siblings. There was his obnoxious brother, Please Gogh; his dizzy aunt, Verti Gogh; his Mexican cousins, Amee Gogh and Grin Gogh; and the little bouncy nephew, Poe Gogh. Now if Van Gogh got along with all his relatives, why can't you and I?
Why are so many families torn by unforgiving grudges? Relentless hatred? Yes, it's a nasty word. Reconciliation is possible with God's help. The alternative shuts us out of the fullness of love in this world and the next.
A true story is told of Corrie Ten Boom's encountering a former S.S. guard from Ravensbruck: When I saw him, it came back in a rush: my sister's frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were.
The guard comes toward Corrie, beaming and bowing. "How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein," he said. "To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!"
Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.
I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.
Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for the victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were also able to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and horrible as that.
Jesus help me! I prayed silently. I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling. I thrust my hand into the the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm and sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.
"I forgive you, brother!" I cried. "With all my heart." For a long moment we grasped each other's hands - the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then. But even so, I realized it was not my love. I had tried, and did not have the power. It was the power of the Holy Spirit.
Forgiveness is a most pressing need of our world. There is a Global Forgiveness Day August 27th, an International Forgiveness Day, the first Sunday of August. A little more forgiveness will help to make the world a much better place.
For centuries the wisdom of great minds have preached forgiveness: "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves," Confucius. "A man who contemplates revenge keeps his wounds green," Francis Bacon. "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you," Lewis B. Smedes.
"When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free," Catherine Ponder.
