THE POWER OF FOREGIVENESS

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be left in a dark, foreboding cave? Or worse? In this essay I am going to explore the power of forgiveness.

This word is only simple on the surface. But it goes beyond a mere expression or word. It is so much more. 

Richard in The Little Duke, is a young boy, not yet a teenager. A boy still enjoying the fun and joy of childhood when his father passes leaving him with the responsibility of the Duke of Normandy, whether he likes it or not.  

As one can imagine, a boy of such a tender age would have a temper, quickly provoked to anger. 

As he begins his life as Duke of Normandy, he gets to do as he pleases. So, naturally, if commanded to do something by an elder why wouldn’t he question their authority. He is the duke, after all. No one can tell him what to do. 

But when the Count of Harcourt sees him yawning during ceremonies and such he quickly changes the duke's lack of attention by giving a stern look. Of course, the duke doesn’t like this, wanting to send the man back to his own court once he had the power to do so. 

Now we can look upon such situations as these and wonder which is better. To get angry and hold a grudge or to forgive? 

If we hold a grudge and get angry what would the result be? 

I think we all have experience in matters such as this and we know what we should do versus what we usually do. 

When someone tries to help or correct us even that small thing can provoke us to anger or resentment. Or maybe they really do something wrong. It’s still our duty to forgive. But we always do the opposite. At least in most cases. 

Now when we do get “coached” if you will, or get wronged, it is almost our instinct to explode in anger. 

But what does this do? It only hurts the other person and you. You don’t realize what you’re doing because you don’t think first, but instead act, maybe even yelling at the other person. Then you’ll only feel guilty afterwards, knowing you shouldn’t have acted so. 

And too, even if someone is just giving us a few tips when we’re doing something wrong, it’s in our prideful nature to get angry and turn up our chin because we think we’re better and are perfect at everything. It doesn't make it right.

Now let us take a look at the contrary. 

First let’s start off with getting “coached” about some matter or other. Someone tells us how to improve. Let us, instead of flaring in anger, acknowledge our imperfection and have humility, kindly thanking the “coach” for helping out. 

Okay, what about if someone actually does something wrong against us, though? The answer is (and always has been and always will be) forgiveness. 

It is such a simple word but a lot more goes into forgiveness. Acknowledge that we aren't perfect when we’re trespassed against and realize the Lord is always ready to forgive no matter what. 

We get forgiven by Him so many times, falling again and again back into sin. What if the Lord acted as we and turned His back on us saying, “You don’t deserve forgiveness, you’ve really done it this time,” 

But does he say this? 

No, he willingly forgives us countless times. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year. 

Now, when people trespass against us, don't refuse to forgive. This is what the evil one wants of us. He wants hate. He wants division. He wants anything and everything evil. 

We will only find happiness in situations like this when we forgive.  

It makes no sense when we expect forgiveness from God and refuse to forgive others ourselves. We have to forgive. 

When we forgive, we feel better and the other feels better. 

Forgiveness feels good. It lifts our spirits and it feels as though a weight has been lifted off our shoulders too. When we hear those words of forgiveness it should be music to our ears. 

In The Little Duke Richard learns to forgive despite being a child where he gets the opportunity to give orders. In Chapter 10, for reference, in referring to King Louis’s unkind son he says, “But…I will say nothing unkind of Lothaire, if I can help it.”

And in the same chapter he says, “Ah! but we must be kind to those who are unkind to us."

And again he tells his friend to look at the crucifix in explaining, saying, “that was for them that hated Him. And don’t you know what our Pater Noster says?”

The French prince Lothaire hated Richard. And yet Richard still tried to make friends with him.

Even when a friend tells Richard that he can have anything he wants he replies that he wants Lothaire set free. Then the other points out how unkind Lothaire was to him. How he had burned a scar on his face. But still, Richard wants Lothaire set free.   

So, as we take this into consideration, let us always be ready to forgive. Instead of turning away in anger let us reconcile with each other, saying, “I forgive you.” 

God sent his only Son to suffer and die a painful death for our sake. 

For our sake. 

Jesus suffered greatly so that we might be saved. 

We have to think about this. 

God is always willing to forgive no matter what, and so should we. 

Is it really going to do us any good if someone breaks our favorite mug and we yell at them and hold a grudge against them for a week? 

What will that do? 

Nothing. 

You’ll only regret getting angry and wish you hadn’t acted like a big baby. 

What will it do instead if we just laugh about it and forgive them?

It will lighten the mood and everybody will be happier.

So let us always remember to forgive. Forgive, forgive and forgive.