For Your Sake

There’s not a whole lot I remember about my childhood, but one lesson has remained with me for life. It happened when I was about eleven or twelve years old.

I was always quite shy and didn’t make friends readily at school.

So it was quite a surprise when I was invited to the birthday party of one of my classmates. Since she lived only a few blocks from my home, my older brother walked with me to my classmate’s house. I was so thrilled to be escorted by my older brother that I spent the entire time engrossed in our conversation.

I don’t recall much about the party, but I do remember that when I was ready to leave, I couldn’t recall which direction to turn when I reached the sidewalk. So I asked one of the girls at the party. She told me to turn left. I headed off.

After turning left, I walked a short distance.

But something didn’t feel right. I turned and headed in the opposite direction. As I passed the sidewalk leading up to the house where the classmate lived, I noticed that two girls were standing in the doorway watching me.

One of them had told me to turn left. The girls were pointing and laughing. Then I realized that the misdirection wasn’t accidental but intentional.

My first reaction was to feel hurt that they would play that kind of trick on me. As I continued walking, I heard a soft voice say, “Forgive them. Not for their sake but for yours.” I chose to forgive them. Over the decades since that incident, there have been multiple times when someone has done or said something that negatively impacted my life. Each time, I would hear that same soft voice, “Forgive them. Not for their sake but for yours.” Always, I choose forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t always easy.

Forgiveness doesn’t negate or excuse what the other person did. But forgiveness of others is critical in our relationship with Christ.

Many times, in my experience, what was intended for harm, God turned around and made into something good (Genesis 50:20).

No matter what happens, forgiveness is always the right choice.

I am glad I listened to that still, small voice all those years ago.

And I pray each one of us will listen to it today and every day.

Sharon Clark