What to do when it's hard to forgive...

As a kid growing up in the 80’s (yes I humbly and proudly admit it), I thought one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen in my tender age was the Knapsack. Back in grade school, I saw these older kids carrying these bags on their backs and that flabbergasted me. These bags came with pockets and secret compartments on the side and on the bottom. And yes, they came in hundreds of colors to choose from. After I talked my dad into buying me one (more like begged and pleaded), I was finally on the list of ‘cool’ kids at my school. I loved that bag so much that I wore it anywhere and everywhere. Even when I knowingly did not have anything inside that bag, I still sported the Knapsack.

A funny thing happened that summer. We had a church camp and when you are nine years old summer camps are the next best thing to Christmas and Voltes V. I packed my Knapsack the day before church camp. I told myself it was the only bag I was going to carry. Being the genius that I am, I tried to pack some clothes and all the toys I can fit in my bag (which are totally garbage). Without breaking any pockets or zippers I successfully packed everything in my cool Knapsack.

The next day rolled in and it was time to leave. My dad had packed the car with bags from my mom and sister. It was my turn to put in my Knapsack. As I was picking it up and holstering it on my shoulders I felt the weight of the bag pulling me down. I got up with both legs planted on the grounded and managed to take one step. The weight of the Knapsack was too much for my nine year old frame and as I was about the take another step, I found myself lying on my back on top of my Knapsack. I looked liked a turtle upside down. It was one of the few times my sister successfully laughed and made fun of me.

I can probably fill up five pages of legal paper (back to back) of people whom I have hurt and have hurt me. The ones that hurt me are naturally who I remember the most. Whenever I remember them and what they have done I felt anger, bitterness and an urge for revenge. I packed in these things in my Knapsack. And just like the bag I had when I was a kid, I filled it up with garbage which weighed me down. If you chose to keep that garbage in your heart it will take you down. It will cause you to live below your potential, take away your peace, rob your joy, keep you hopeless and ruin your relationships. Trust me on this one because for many years I let the garbage in and I paid a high price for something cheap and low.

The Knapsack I am talking about was never meant to carry “garbage.” It is the place the Bible calls your heart. You can either fill it up with treasures, or load it up with garbage.
Anyone can build up garbage in their Knapsack. Luke 17:1 says “It is impossible that no offences should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” In other words it is not weird that we go through life with people mistreating us or criticize us or lie about us or abuse us or do any number of things they should not do.

Jesus traveled light. He showed us how to avoid paying the high price of living low. HE DID NOT HAVE GARBAGE IN HIS KNAPSACK, even the ones provided by those closest to Him. He did not pick up offences or let them enter His heart. When Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, Jesus simply called him “friend” and forgave him! Even at the crucifixion Jesus forgave His offenders, and He prayed “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus forgave everyone of everything- immediately.

What happens when you pour water on a duck? YOU CANNOT GET THE DUCK WET! Even if you pour hundreds of gallons of water on a duck he will stay dry. Those feathers keep the water flowing right off him. That should happen with offences in our lives. They should roll right off us.
First Corinthians 13:5 says that love does not take into account a wrong that has been done to it, or in another translation, a wrong suffered. You can experience a wrong and pack it straight in your Knapsack. You can even try to convince other people to stuff it in theirs by telling them all about it: “He hurt me! And you know what else he did?” OR you can walk in love. No matter what someone does, you let it roll off you like a duck and you keep going. You put one foot down…someone treats you like crap…then by the time you put the other foot down you are saying, “Bless him/ her, Lord.” You have already forgiven the person and kept right on living your best life without allowing offence to slow you down.