15. Easter and Forgiveness

This last weekend was Easter, the day that we celebrate the atonement and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the pivotal, most significant event in all of history. The event that made life possible and relevant to everyone who ever lived or ever will live upon the Earth. I would feel incredibly ungrateful if I didn’t speak about this monumental moment in time that brings my life meaning. Specifically, I want to talk about the atonement as it relates to forgiveness. Because of the atonement we are able to receive forgiveness, under certain conditions. Because of the atonement we can also attain the strength to forgive others. There may be people in your life who have hurt you very deeply. Abuse, betrayal, being cheated on, lied to, used, manipulated, excluded, bullied or any other form of misuse. Things like this can stay with us for years, even our whole lives if we let them. But forgiveness can be so hard sometimes. Maybe you believe that they don’t deserve forgiveness, and who am I to say you’re wrong, but anger hurts. Wouldn’t it feel better to let it go? Let’s you and I explore the possibility.