Sheesh..things haven't changed around here at all have they. Probably for the worse...................anyway I've been feeling discouraged and at times having a borderline personal pity party what with the continuing bleeding but my new friend Vic (remember her?) emailed me this and it put everything into perspective. Words to live by............................................................................ > How To Forgive > > >One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the >woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not >right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a >job. > >His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. > >He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he >had that no one could cure. His ver y soul was filled with anger, >resentment and frustration. > >Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing >all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek >the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he >prayed: > >'Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me >to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to >forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is not fair >Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I >shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I >cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I >fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing >I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive.' > >As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt >something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of >one eye, he saw something red on his shoulder. > >He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been >was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw >two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them. > >He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging >on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and >battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering >and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to >sobbing, and Jesus began to speak. > >'Have you ever told a lie?' He asked? The man answered - 'yes, Lord.' > >'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?' The man answered, >'yes, Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more. > >'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?' Jesus asked? >And the man answered - 'yes, Lord.' > >'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain? ' The man, crying >now, answered - 'yes, Lord.' > >As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'? The man's crying became >uncontrollable, for he could only answer - 'yes, Lord.' > >Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt >something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the >blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and >there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before. > >Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you.' > >It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when >you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is. Read the >following first line slowly and let it sink in. > >If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. >When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!