Lightening the Load

We all carry a load of some sort. A few weeks back someone really hurt and disappointed me. I thought it was just good old poisonous anger but it stemmed from hurt and disappointment which is where anger really comes from I think. Anyway, I just nursed these feelings and let them sort of dictate my relationship with this person and my attitude about a lot of things related to them. Yesterday God grabbed my attention (yanked is a better term) and told me that I needed to not only let these feelings go but to forgive the person who had caused them. I remembered a sermon I had heard a while back that said that one way to erase the bitterness in your life is to not only forgive the person who has hurt you but to tell them (when it is possible and realistic to do so) that you forgive them. Are you kidding? Go to the person who has hurt or disappointed you and tell them you forgive them when they haven't even asked for forgiveness? That's a little presumptuous don't you think? Well that sermon came to mind yesterday and I made an appointment to see this person. A friend of mine tells me that I am like the old cartoon character that has the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other. I always say "yeah and the angel stands there daily thinking man, my life sucks because the devil wins out more often than not". And the devil was there yesterday. I had decided that when I told this person I forgave them I was also going to "revisit" what had caused the problem in the first place and do all I could to not only make my side known but to try to make this person feel bad. After all, God had led me to this place, right? Well today I met with the individual and the devil DID NOT WIN OUT!! God was indeed in this from the beginning and He carried me through today. I was sincere, I spoke my heart, witnessed a little, and gave God the glory for all of it. The meeting went great and I left with a sense of peace. The individual was receptive and opened up to me about their own spiritual struggles. We were able to talk like children of Christ. It was good. God is not a liar. "If you have aught against your brother, you should go to him and make it right." I am paraphrasing but you can find it in Matthew. Every time I follow God's instruction, it turns out to be such a good thing. DUH!! So today I am lighter. A burden is lifted. I think that is how we have to approach such things. One at a time. Lightening the load.