Forgive unconditionally

​The Bible tells us to forgive unconditionally, but it doesn't say we are to forget immediately. Sometimes it takes time to rebuild the trust that's been lost
 
When most people see this picture, they may look and say what a great looking family. Yes, this is true. However, what most people may not see in this picture is forgiveness, rebuilding trust, and love. Let me share a few things about this picture. These are my three daughters from a previous marriage. The blond who is standing below be is my wife who I married after the divorce from their mom. I have watched my kids work on forgiveness, rebuilding trust, and putting the hurt in past aside to build a relationship with my wife and rebuild a relationship with their dad after I left their mom.  Let’s talk about a few things I learned from this picture when I saw it. 
 “What if someone does something unforgiveable?” Jesus never said forgiving would be easy. But, He did say that we need to forgive, over and over again. There was no caveat that said to forgive only when the other person deserves it or to forgive if they ask for forgiveness. Matthew 6:15 says, “If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” This is serious business.
Unfortunately, I can speak from experience in this area. I was on the receiving end of forgiveness. As I mentioned above I was the one who left and asked for a divorce from my girl’s mother after 18 years of marriage. The way I handled the divorce was not the best way. The way I handled this situation hurt a lot of people but especially my girls and family. I was not only struggling through a divorce I was also struggling with living my life in the gym and addictions that come along with that. Yet, it was something I kept hidden from my family and kids. It wasn’t until just a few years ago that I shared my sin and addiction with my family and girls, after much personal pain and confession to God. It also meant I needed to come to terms with some issues of my past.
But, as that heavy weight was lifted off my shoulders, it became a tremendous burden for my family and girls.  For so long, I had lied to them. I had hidden something from them. I had pretended to be something I wasn’t. I was hypocritical. I betrayed my family for a long time. How could they trust me? How sad did this make them feel? They were disappointed. They were angry, and they were hurt.
At this point, my family and girls could have chosen to turn their back on me and with they hurt and choices I was making at this time I certainly didn’t “deserve” to be forgiven. But, neither do any of us deserve God’s forgiveness. He doesn’t forgive us because we deserve it. He forgives us because He loves us; and that’s exactly why my family and girls were able to forgive me.
See when I look at this picture I see so much more than a group of people taking a great picture. I see kids and family forgiving their brother, Son and Dad for they hurt I caused.  I will say it has taken years and we are all still working through a lot of things, but glad my girls are following Christ, because without His love in their hearts there is no telling how this story would have turned out.