Jesus often taught on forgiveness. Forgiveness is sometimes hard to talk about. When the sinful women anonointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her tears the Pharisees grumbled. Jesus then reminded them how little they had done for him since he came into their house and how many great things she had done. "Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little" Luke 7:47. Was she a greater sinner than those present? No. The difference was she understood how much she needed to be forgiven. You will often find the greatest labourers for God are those who have been the greatest sinners. They do not labour to earn merit or work for their salvation but understand the depth and width of their sin and the real price Jesus paid. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, had a vision of a island with many people knitting and writing and idling away the time. A few others were furiously labouring to save those perishing in the sea all around them. Sadly it was true then, true at the Pharisees house and true now. At the centre of forgiveness is the word 'give.' It really is that simple.
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My husband and I often discuss this topic. I think you could meditate on aspects of forgiveness the rest of your life, and still have things to learn. After a lifetime of resentment I still cannot fully forgive my parents who abandoned me. I still hold great anger and resentment toward my abusive ex-husband, who I divorced over 20 years ago. Finding forgiveness in our hearts for those who have hurt us is often a daily struggle. If we only work on that aspect of forgiveness, we will have enough to do.
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