I am a championship grudge holder. I guess it’s part of my personality. I have carried grudges from kindergarten into adulthood; no exaggeration. I’m good at it, I know how to do it, and I will be honest, there have been times when I have truly enjoyed nursing a grudge. But, let’s face it, it isn’t worth the price.

In every case where I have chosen to forgive, the freedom and the fellowship that I have enjoyed were far worth the supposed price of letting go. I don’t necessarily mean fellowship with the offender. Sometimes, that’s just a bad idea. But, the reality of it is like this. Suppose an unarmed man walks up on your porch one day, knocks on your door, and when you answer, he demands that you give him your wallet. Instead of doing just that, you also hand him the keys to your house and car and surrender all your possessions to him, then run out the door crying about becoming a victim of this guy. Read back. I said, “unarmed man”.

Unfortunately, too many dear people of the faith have been like this unarmed man. Let’s face it, Christianity is full of people. And, sadly, sometimes people can be real jerks. They may embarrass, intimidate, or otherwise make you extremely uncomfortable. They may even genuinely harm or wrong you in some way, but they don’t really have the right to take away your peace, joy, or happiness until you give it to them. Forgiving is like taking back the keys to your stuff. Here’s a bonus, they don’t even have to know about it!

I’m not saying I have this thing totally under wraps, I’m just saying it is an area of growth for me and I’ve had some golden opportunities to learn how in recent days. But, the neatest thing about it is, I’m not being asked to do anything that the Father hasn’t already shown me how to do in His dealings with me personally. “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13, NLT)

It can be done. It must be done. And, by the grace of God, I will.