Friends spending time during such sunny day
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. —Colossians 3:13
We don’t need perfect friends. Instead, healthy relationships happen between people who bear with each other, who are gracious about each other’s faults.
Healthy relationships are built by people who are quick to forgive one another as soon as a grievance arises. It may be necessary to muster the courage to tell the other person we are hurt and to talk through the situation so it’s less likely to happen again. But even in confrontation, loving friends talk peacefully as we let go of any desire to make the other person pay.
Instead of retaliating in anger, we go to the other person in humility and calm strength. And often there’s no need even for that, because with minor offenses we can forgive without pointing out the other person’s faults.
Jesus said, “Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).
Is there someone you need to forgive?
Food for Thought: Because we are grateful that the Lord has forgiven us, we are able to offer forgiveness freely to others.
