His statement was emphatically spoken with his teeth gritted together, “I will never, never forgive her”, and he was speaking of his daughter. Her statement was, “He could never, ever do anything that would buy my forgiveness”, and she was speaking of her husband. He said, “I really wouldn't care if someone called me today and told me that he was dying. I would just say, “oh”, and go back to work”, and he was sharing about his dad. Unforgiveness has this way of binding the person who wears it, and often the one who is unforgiving is wearing the chains.
Think about it, every time there is a reference to the offender, even a hint of acknowledging them, invocation of anger toward them wells up inside. Sometimes even the mention of another person who bears their name will conjure up feelings of hatred. Often the hatred and unforgiveness lasts for years and years, and sometimes for the rest of one's life. That's a long time to wear such a ponderous chain.
Some think about it this way, “the person who did the offense already took advantage, abused, neglected or harmed, why allow them to continue to damage?” In a sense, this thinking is right. For each time the person is held bound through unforgiveness, damage is inflicted once again. Some would probably be best advised to “let them go”, and watch the chains fall away from themselves and be free again. Otherwise the chains will continue to add to the weight of a life that is heavy enough to bear without any help from any other person.
Until tomorrow...Why Say More?
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