No… not
CHOOSE LIFE
or
CHOOSE DEATH
but
CHOOSE FORGIVENESS
I know what you may be thinking…Dead horse Bill. You have beaten that one. Maybe…
but…
this weekend it came to fruit. Certain events brought about the opportunity to extend grace and forgiveness and I bask in the FREEDOM that comes from doing so. A card that needed to be written was written. But on Saturday night…Hello Momma! New Beginnings Pregnancy Center used our building to show October Baby. I was moved, not because I or my wife have faced the abortion issue personally, but because a father and daughter were involved. That was gut-wrenching in itself. As a father it is always hard to let your daughters go-whether to a man to get married, or to move away and start a life on her own. I have experienced both, and trust me when I say that neither one was easy to do. I have bragged about my feelings for my girls before. I don’t want to bore you with those again.
But there is one thing I will never stop talking about:
THE FREEDOM THAT COMES FROM FORGIVENESS!
NEVER. STOP.
TALKING.
ABOUT. IT.
The movie had a section in it that really hit me hard. I realize it might be a spoiler for some of you who may plan someday to see the movie. Maybe it will motivate you to see it sooner. Some of you may have no intention at all in seeing the movie. That’s okay because this small snippet is the turning point (IMHO) of the whole movie. If you are able, may I ask you to take almost five minutes to watch this clip?
This is not a post on the “rightness or wrongness” of abortion. There are plenty of other blogs that do that. It is on the power of forgiveness. I know I just wrote about forgiveness and how not everything gets hunky-dory immediately (sometimes not at all). But the road to healing is paved by starting with forgiveness.
One last time (for now): what was your take-away from the movie clip. Do you know someone you need to forgive? Have you ever forgiven someone and known forgiveness because of it?
Forgiveness isn’t something that has been forthcoming this weekend- and yet, through the turmoil in my heart the one thing that everything seems to come back to is to let it go- God is in control and I need to rest in that. Even when it doesn’t make sense and I can’t do anything to make it better- the one thing I can do is forgive and let the bitterness that could take root go. (does all of that even make sense? I have a headache and my head is fuzzy from the tears cried)
It makes sense and the reasoning is right on target. Bitterness is ugly root that you or anyone else simply cannot allow to take root.
I so understand the girls struggle with unforgiveness and wanted to says…YES…to the pastor or priest who pointed her to God forgivenss as the means to forgive ourselves and others. If we continue to bathe our self in his forgiveness and love it will flow from us. Bitterness will still try to take root in our hearts but accepting His forgivness uproots it. Like most roots they must be pulled up often or the vines will take over our hearts. I use the tool of be thankful for His love no matter how many times I have failed…Good post brother. Love the clip, put it on my facebook….
So right Betty. Very close to what I told my daughter Tami just above you. Glad you liked the clip.
I didn’t watch the clip, but I watched the entire movie Saturday. If it is the scene I think, very powerful.
it was the scene in the cathedral Larry where she went and talked to the pastor/priest about living a like and he talked about forgiveness. Glad you saw the movie.
Hi Bill,
I wasn’t able to know if this young girl in the video was a believer. At the time that Jesus was speaking about forgiving 70×7 he was speaking to his disciples privately. We have to also consider that Jesus ministered to almost exclusively Jews who were known as the people of God in his day.
Is all that God offers available to believers and unbelievers alike? The church seems to think so. They minister forgiveness of sins like it’s free money.
Romans says that if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus…
My other thought is can an unbeliever really forgive as the believer can? The Holy Spirit enables the believer to forgive once his/her will is there. He does the work.
As for the movie: she was. As for your comment: I believe the believer and non-believer alike can benefit from forgiving others. Too many non-believers carry grudges, etc that kill them or can cause them to do things that hurt. I see nothing wrong with telling them they need to forgive. Of course, only when they come to Jesus will they receive ultimate forgiveness.
I had the privilege of watching that movie almost as soon as it hit the bookstore where I work. My boss asked me to take it home and watch it so I could tell people what it’s about. Forgiveness is a big theme. Hard movie to watch, but I heartily recommend it.
Thanks for the endorsement Susan. I also believe it is a hard one to watch but a good one.
My take away is that there is pain in this flesh and life. The peace and joy are from God above and through Him we can forgive and find those precious gifts.
From a reader: jughead1118
Did you see the behind the scenes? Where the real mother in the movie had made a decision like that before she was in the movie. Truely a great movie.
yes i did. It was a profound moment for her as well and she wasn’t acting. It was her “cleansing” moment with God. That was really cool to see.
Forgiveness is so powerful.
I think it can be easy for people to see the sin, know what God says about it and judge. They forget the person(s) involved are real people.
I’ve known a few women who have chosen to abort. Every one of them has regretted it and they have needed to forgive themselves and they desperately need the forgiveness of those who call themselves Christian.
You are right TC. It is so easy for people to see the sin but not the forgiveness.
We certainly ought choose to forgive.
But we often don’t. And or, people refuse to forgive us.
The wonderful thing is that our Lord has chosen to forgive us. Even though there isn’t a one of us on this planet who deserves it.
Thanks, Bill.
Glad His forgiveness is complete.
Forgiveness can sometimes be so difficult depending on the act in need of forgiving. In that movie, the fact that her mother tried to abort her, and still didn’t want anything to do with her would hurt so deeply. I think we don’t always have the ability to forgive on our own. Sometimes it is something that must come from God.
you are right Mike. Sometimes supernatural forgiveness is all that we have.
That whole movie is a tearjerker!
Who me? Shed a tear?