Article January 25, 1988 Issue

I deserve to forgive

Was it really unforgivable? Everyone deserves forgiveness —and we deserve to forgive.

Nana Wolaver

Years ago someone treated me very unjustly and I was greatly upset by it. I knew deep down that I should forgive her, but I didn't want to. I was feeling that anyone who acted and talked as she had didn't deserve to be forgiven.

However, when we have loved and studied the teachings of Christ Jesus, they stay in consciousness and we can't just turn our back on them; they refuse to let us. The Lord's Prayer kept coming to me, especially this part: "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."^{Matt. 6:12.}

I remembered that there had been things I had done that I had later felt were wrong. Did I deserve to be forgiven? Of course! At least I thought I did! And yet the Lord's Prayer seemed to be saying to me that we deserve God's forgiveness only "as we forgive" also.

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