Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Don’t have anything to do with any kind of hatred. Ephesians 4:31 NRIV
Have you ever been to the grocery store picking up a small basket to place your groceries in, because you only needed a few items? You saw some things on sale that you didn’t need, but picked up anyway because it was a great price. Before you know it, you’re walking leaning toward one side, your hand is cramping up and your arm is hurting. Your answer to the problem, switch hands! Great, now both hands and arms are hurting. You finally make it to the register, relief at last. But before you know it, your now carrying your load once again in bags to your car and can’t wait to put them down and let them go. I’m sure I’m not the only one who does this and pretty certain a lot of you can identify with this. But it made me think, how many times do we carry around other things we should let go of.
We all get offended and hurt from time to time, but sometimes the offense or hurt is so impactful we just can’t forget the injustice we’ve experienced. People tell you to let it go, but you think they just don’t get what they did to me, how much it hurt or was unfair. So you just keep carrying them around. Perhaps we all should fill a plastic grocery bag and carry it around with us for one day refusing to let it go. Imagine how hindered you would be. What would driving be like, especially turning a corner or parking? Typing on a keyboard would be almost impossible. How about eating, especially a hoagie or steak sandwich. What about getting dressed or taking a shower, the list goes on and on. How much easier life is when you can not only use both hands, but not have that extra weight hanging on you.
The truth is when we carry offenses and hurts with us it’s much the same thing. We think it’s not hindering our lives. Oh but it is and if we don’t let go of the bag we keep filling it up with additional offenses, until we are so miserable and in pain they influence everything else in our lives. Although we blame the offense for our pain, in reality we’re choosing to carry it around and keep adding to the bag. Why do we put ourselves through so much misery when all we would have to do is put the bag down and let it go? We fool ourselves thinking we’re going to even the score or settle issues, when in reality we’re only causing self-inflicted pain.
Are you finding yourself thinking about a personal injustice on a regular basis? Playing it over and over again in your mind, let it go. Cut yourself a break, lighten your load and find out how freeing it truly is. Life actually can be fun without the extra weight of unforgiveness. Try it, you will like it!
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