Abandonment and Unforgiveness, Part 2

After we completed our six-month course, our instructor encouraged us to invite all our family members and close friends to our graduation, where we shared our stories with them for the first time. After graduation, several of them said how blessed and grateful they were to hear our testimonies. Several wanted to take the course.

Although graduation had passed, I still had one major assignment left.

I needed to call all those directly involved in my abandonment, let them know how I felt, and forgive them. This was the most difficult task I had ever had to do.

For several nights leading up to the big day, the childhood memories haunted me.

I needed to be finally and fully free of them. It was no coincidence when I stumbled upon an Adventist Youth online program held at the Caring University Church, from the campus of the University of the Southern Caribbean.

I witnessed the openness with which a participant told the story of his need to forgive his mother, who had abandoned him. It was so heart-wrenching yet touching that I messaged him immediately and shared that I was about to do the same thing with my family.

I asked him to pray for me, and he agreed.

God knew how much I needed this encouragement.

The night before the big day, I wrote out my forgiveness speeches and asked God, once again, to give me courage. My husband had gone to work that day, so it was just God and me. As each family member came over, I read out my speeches and let the person know that although he or she had unknowingly hurt me during this darkest moment in my life, I had forgiven them. Reliving these sad memories was so difficult for all of us, but in the end, they felt my love and forgiveness, and this was what mattered most. I heard their side of the story, and my brokenness was soothed. In the end, I let them know how much I appreciated having them in my life and how much I loved them. Today, I encourage you to pursue peace.

You may have someone to forgive, or you may need to be forgiven.

Whatever your story, allow the Holy Spirit to set you free.

If Jesus chose to forgive those who nailed Him to the cross, then we, too—in His strength—can choose to forgive.

Raevae Isaac