After my cat Berlin died I adopted three cats.
Two came from a mother whose baby had a rash caused by the cats.
The third came from a woman about to have a baby.
The third was a real mess when he came here.
He was angry, hurt, ready to kill.
The third time he bit me I said to him softly, “You know, it’s okay.”
He looked at me quizzically for about half a second before his reset switch went off.
Now he spends every available moment as close to me as possible.
The world seems full of mean spirited people determined to do as much harm as they can.
Forgiveness robs them of the power to wound us.
We bless them. We move on. We leave them behind.
There’s nothing we can do for them.
That work is their responsibility not ours.
Forgiveness allows us to leave them behind.
We are in an end time.
Every end time has within it the seed of a new beginning.
People clock off when we use the name of Jesus.
I don’t blame them for that.
Yesterday I realized Jesus had no problem calling a lying person a liar nor a hypocrite a hypocrite.
Neither do I but calling a liar a liar is a dangerous business. We’d better have rock solid proof as we will find ourselves hauled into court if we do.
This is where the common sense of Jesus comes into play. If someone sues for your coat, give them your shirt Jesus tells us adding if they force you to walk a mile, walk two, if they strike you on one cheek, turn the other.
What I sacrifice in doing that I have found is small next to what I have gained.
What have I gained that is so valuable.
Well, for one thing, I have a cat that spends every moment beaming thank you at me.
That is a treasure beyond compare.
As for revenge, the desire for revenge rots us worse than does cancer.
Most do not know that the Sanhedrin Jesus faced after his midnight (illegal) arrest as the most corrupt in the history of Israel.
Normally a man was high priest for one year only.
By the time of Jesus Rome appointed as High Priest whoever could buy the position.
Caiaphas had bought the position 18 years in a row,
Do your own research.
Then you will know.
Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.”
They didn’t. Our modern day Caiaphases don’t know either.
The only honourable place to be found is among those whom this world crushes.
It helps that I love their company.
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