Well, the New Year finds me posting my 150th post.
It just so happens to be slightly on the thought-provoking side, and not about sports (don't worry my Boise State post is coming!)....
Today, I had a chance to watch and listen to quite a bit of the coverage surrounding Ford's memorial service. I was really struck by a couple of things that seemed to be themes no matter who was speaking.
I heard lots of talk about integrity, honesty, the value of his word, and his concern and care for those he served with. Person after person would share stories about his integrity.
And then there was the commentator who reminded me that Ford had pardoned Nixon. The prevailing thought on why he lost the following election was because the country wasn't ready to forgive Nixon.
This commentator went on to talk about how Ford and Nixon were very close friends. This commentator speculated that Ford didn't want the stigma surrounding Nixon longer than it already had; and thus he pardoned him.
It struck something deep in my heart, and I knew that God was trying to tell me something. Sometimes I feel like it is my right to hold on to my anger, to wait to forgive someone. Especially when the person is willingly, knowingly hurting someone or sining. It is part of the consequence of their actions, of their sins.
Especially when everyone around you agrees. Even the WHOLE country.
Perhaps the greatest measure of our character is our willingness to forgive.
Perhaps the greatest example of Christ we can share with the world around us is, forgiveness.
No strings attached.
No waiting period.
No earned consequences.
At a time when the country needed healing in so many ways, Ford extended true forgiveness, true love. And even if the country didn't accept it at the time, he did what he believed was right.
What a legacy to leave behind. The legacy of forgiveness, of Christ's forgiveness. That kind of legacy could, and can, change the world.
So, my new year's resolution..... to live of life of forgiveness. Let go of grudges, instaneously, and see how His forgiveness can change the world around me.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
1-5-0, something special....
Posted by Ashlee Liddell at 6:30 PM
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6 comments:
I like your thoughts about forgiveness and grudges. I thought about it, and I think I'm in a simliar place. You have a good New Years resolution there.
I love a quote I heard on resentment and forgiveness: harboring resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Well, I like your thoughts on forgiveness too. I only have one thing to say:
In Ford's situation, I don't think it was necessarily a matter of forgiveness. It was more a matter of...I don't know... friendship maybe? A sort of "Watching out for your boy" type of thing. You see, I would have no problem forgiving a good friend of mine if he had, let's say, robbed a bank. It didn't "directly" affect me or our friendship. I think that's what the people saw: injustice. Ford didn't have to give Nixon a pardon in order to forgive. I would have been more of a justice had he not, in my opinion.
The toughest times for me to forgive are those times when I feel some wrong has been done towards me. I still haven't mastered it, although I'm starting to realize that maybe it's not that I don't forgive them, I just have a hard time forgetting. My question: is that possible?
Anyhoo, love you guys and I can't wait to see everyone again!
Ashlee, I forgive you for so egregiously misspelling the word instantaneously.
How'm I doing? :)
Joe
ashlee...today i had a cinnamon dolce latte...and it was dang good...i had forgotten how good they were...
:)
Joser....don't pick on my spelling;) I barely have time to blog, much less run spell check! You will most certainly find these same kinds of mistakes in almost all previous and future posts.....
I know you need something fun to do at work, so I will keep making spelling mistakes for you!
Duke Fan,
I am willing to buy into the theory of friendship being a motivating factor, but I still think that the forgiveness lesson is applicable to the situation, and to my life. But I do give some weight to the friendship argument.....
Oh, and duke fan...
I think it is possible to forgive someone but have trouble forgetting.
The situation I am having great difficultly in the forgiveness department is a constantly reoccuring issue in my life. I have to deal/think/interact in the midst of it everyday. How can I possibly forget the crap???? But the forgiveness comes from my response, my actions, and my willful decision about how I am going to handle the situation.....
Does that make sense?
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