Who nurses what they abhor? Vengeance
Set me harboring, nurturing what I despised.
Churning wrath weaved woeful webs
Resentful seeds churned shameful fruits
Meaner than blows that knocked me down
My quest for revenge turned me a monster:
Multiple loser in a saga I didn’t request.

I didn’t start this! It wasn’t fair! I swore no rest
I sought even score until the day Forgiveness clicked:
Light dawned, eyes opened to the madness I enrolled
Shamefaced, I bowed, not bound but released
From the vicious cycle of reechoing misfortunes.
Acerbity left me worse than the culprit I loathed
But Mercy taught me to cancel debts not owned.

Obedience discharged me from the obnoxious berries
Of my unsavory encounters, empowered me to rise
Higher than where I was before the fall, relocated
From the limited sphere of distasteful experiences
And set my feet on heights where I freely choose
To be better than bitter, harvesting good from bad
Progressing triumphant: a victor and not a victim.

Bible tells a story of a servant who owed his Master so huge a debt and couldn’t pay. He fell at the Master’s feet and pleaded for time. Instead of extension, his debts were cancelled. Stepping out free, he met another who owed him and couldn’t pay. When his fellow servant fell at his feet seeking mercy, the big boy fumed and kicked his debtor to jail – “That’s where you belong,” he righteously concluded but unknown to him, judgment comes full circle and we reap what we sow.

When we fail, we reach for mercy, we gasp for grace but when offended, forgiveness can prove a challenge. We want to deal back the hand we were dealt or worse. We wish the worst on offenders, “Their due reward,” we conclude. But do we really want our due rewards when we miss it, intentionally or mistakenly? Mercy is what we ask, grace is all we need. But what about others? Especially those who by their words and/or deeds, pushed us into pits of pain and shame?

That is where God steps in and shines as our ultimate example: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others,” Jesus taught. Not only His teachings, His lifestyle even at the ‘deepest-pit’ moments of His life equally reflected that, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” Here is the model life to which every Christian is called: to forgive not only by words but in truth and in deed. To forgive not only when repentance is demonstrated but also when offenders don’t know or don’t care. To forgive not only when conditions are conducive but also in the pit of underserved agony. That at every point, whatever the situation, we seek within and find mercy for offenders, that we can truly say we have forgiven.

Not by ignoring or trying to forget it. Forgiveness is a conscious effort that costs us. It places a demand on us to be like our heavenly Father who uses our walk with Him to set examples we should emulate and like our Model Christ, who demonstrated that for our learning. Pursuit of vengeance turns us into unrecognizable monsters whereas forgiveness heals the wounded. Forgiveness can be a tough call but it is possible and it is a higher call. May God’s grace abound towards us to exercise this virtue no matter what.

Glory!