Holding On And Letting Go

June 28, 2017

Day 174: Turn Off Technology To Turn Off Anxiety:
"The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." —Exodus 14:14

The title for Day 174's lesson resonates with me, especially as of late. So much of what I read on Facebook is anxiety inducing. Cruelty abounds, injustice is prevalent, and the feeling of helplessness increases daily. I like to be informed, just not inundated to the point that it is debilitating and I lose hope. However, through it all I am learning when to hold on and when to let go.

Day 175: She Always Knew He Was There:
"A demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn't speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. The crowd was amazed and asked, 'Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?'" —Matthew 12:22-23

I really like Anderson's discussion for Day 175 in which he shares his experience of learning about Helen Keller when he was young. I had never really thought about whether Helen Keller believed in God, but Anderson says that when Helen Keller was first introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ, she is said to have replied "that she had always known that Jesus was there, and now she was glad to know his name."  I just really like that, perhaps because I can relate to it. That sort of intuitive knowing.  I cannot remember a time when I did not believe in God. I have always believed that there was something greater than all of us, some higher purpose, some deeper meaning to life.

Day 176: Jesus Sees The Saint In The Sinner's Smoke:
"I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn." —Isaiah 57:18

The main point of Anderson's lesson for Day 176 is that "no matter what [we've] done, [we] can't hide behind a smoke screen. Jesus knows everything, and he covers it all with his blood."
We may feel as if we have done some unforgivable things in our lives, but Jesus forgives it all. Because He forgives it all, we are asked to forgive it all.

Just recently, after years and years of pain and regret I have been able to forgive my father (my biological father) for pushing me away, for allowing his wife Glenda to manipulate him into saying and doing so many hurtful things to all of us kids...his kids.  Just a few days before he passed away I was able to let go of all of the hurt, pain, hard feelings, regret, anger, frustration. All of it. It is simply gone.

Forgiveness, when it is true, is one of the most amazing things.  It's hard to explain exactly how it happens, because we can say that we forgive someone, but until it is really in your heart, you are not free from the feelings that another's transgressions or offenses have created within you. I truly have the attitude of "No hard feelings Dad. We all make mistakes."  I am deeply grateful to be free from the feelings I had for my father.  Now there is only the hope that he will be at peace.