Written on February 3, 2024. Published on February 7, 2024. 3:00am (EST)
As a high school music teacher since July 3, 1989, I have had to forgive so many people that I truly know the power and since I have been more on a mission to surrender my life to Jesus, that power has grown! All the wrong notes = forgive. The parents and/or their students who are mad at you and say vile things = forgive. Coaches who don’t cooperate with you in regard to facility or students’ time = forgive.
This week I was listening to one of my favorite pastors sharing a wonderful message about dealing with anger. Anger is a real emotion. Of course, Jesus had his angry moments.
During the Pastor’s message, what hit my heart was you can’t be anointed and angry. The two do not work together. I want to be anointed. Therefore, I need to get better at releasing my anger in a loving way (forgiveness)!
One way to not be bitter and get more close to being anointed is through forgiveness.
One of the things I need to do better is truly forgiving to the point where it will help me physically. Yes. That’s right! Forgiving makes you healthier. Instead of all the medication you are being prescribed, how about increase your forgiving?
We (if the shoe fits, wear it) are doing a pretty bad job raising children who are not filled with anxiety, depression, and/or stress. And frankly, there is a direct causation to this ‘pretty bad job’ since the lack of God in public schools and the increased number of fatherless homes. I digress.
One way to help our children not be anxious, depressed and/or stressed is teach our children to forgive. I learned this ‘simple’ lesson from Dr. John C. Maxwell (btw – I do have an event using his wonderful book “The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth”). Instead of replying to our child when he/she apologizes for doing something wrong with, “Oh, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it,” respond with “I forgive you.”
In fact, I just said that to two scholars (students) yesterday. During detention, they were being very mean, disrespectful and rude. About 10 minutes after they left, they came back to the room (at the direction of the Dean of Students) to apologize. I simply said, “I forgive you.” They did the curious-puppy-turn-the-head as if to say, “what does that (I forgive you) mean?” May have been the first time either boy had someone say that to them.
I am the first to say, ‘forgiving someone is easier said than done.’ Yet, sometimes doing the right thing (forgiving) can change your life for the better! Sane people want their lives to be better. We should want to be better today than we were yesterday. Forgiving is one way to help you be better!
Please learn how to forgive. Learning how to forgive is going to be a lifelong process. Just know an answer to get you through any anxious, depressing or stressful time is forgiving.