Gift of Forgiveness

I was watching ESPN the other day with my husband, and was moved by a story they reported on. It was about a football player who had caused a terrible tragedy.

I don't remember the football players name, or what college team he played for. But that doesn't really matter as much as the powerful act I witnessed watching the show. The football player was one of the most valuable players on his college team, giving of himself 110% for every game. Needless to say, he was drafted into the NFL and started his big career with the Cowboys. But it wasn't long before people saw that his heart just wasn't in the game anymore. I don't know if it was because of the added pressures of living with fame and fortune, but he soon turned into a mediocure player.

One night, he and his buddies lived it up at a strip club and kicked back a few drinks. It was 2 am when he decided to leave. Getting onto the freeway, he followed close behind an SUV that was traveling in the middle lane at a speed of 80 miles per hour. His dazed focus was on the SUV's tail lights, instead of anything else surrounding him.

Since he was close behind the SUV, he was unaware of an accident uphead. The SUV swerved into the lane furthest from the wreck to avoid it. Thinking the SUV swerved because of something in the middle lane, the still somewhat dazed football player swerved into the lane closest to the wreck. Before he realized it, he had hit something in the road, which then flew up and smashed the glass of his windshield. Thinking he had only hit some trash that was in the road, he hesitated a moment before deciding to continue on home.

It was the day after when he realized what he had done. After finding out the horrible news of what he had really hit, he confessed to his mother before calling the authorities to turn himself in.

In a moment, his irresponsible act changed his life forever. It wasn't trash lying in the road that he had hit, but three good samaritans that were attending the injured driver of the wrecked car. He killed two of the men instantly and severly injured and had dragged the third man with his car.

Now he has to live with the guilt and consequences of what he had done. But what moved me the most, was watching the football player in court, awaiting his sentence. The injured man, who struggles to talk and walk, came up to the football player and in front of everyone in the courtroom, said, "I forgive you."

The football player wept. He knew he didn't deserve that gift of forgiveness from the man he had injured, but he humbly accepted it as he wept in the man's arms.

Now after serving 7 and 1/2 years in prison, the football player has a new appreciation for the life he has been given--even though the awesome job and benefits have all been stripped away.

Giving forgiveness is one of the most powerful things you can do. Forgiving someone means sacrificing something for the sake of restoring a broken relationship. When someone has greatly wronged you or hurt you, it is up to you to CHOOSE whether you are going to forgive them or not. Are you willing to sacrifice your hurt and bitterness you feel towards the person who wronged you, to restore the relationship? Trust me, no matter how hard it may be, when you choose to forgive someone, God will begin to heal the hurt you feel.

Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed Himself, to take on the sins of the world, for the sake of restoring our relationship that was broken with our Heavenly Father. We did not beg for forgiveness--He willingly gave it even as we continued to cry out, "Crucify Him!"

You would think His last words on the cross would be, "Father, send them all to hell; they don't deserve forgiveness for what they have done to me!" But no, because He loves us so much, He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." And with His final breath, he sighed these words, "it is finished." Which means, it was accomplished that all our past, present, and future sins were put upon Himself--so that now His forgiveness and grace are free for whoever wants to accept it.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14

I hope this story has helped you if you are struggling with forgiveness. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Alyssa