Our
family got together for Easter Sunday. And
I’m guessing the Presidential family did the same, since the White House Easter
Egg Roll wasn’t until April 1st, the day after Easter. I don’t know about the Obamas, but my
family’s assembling for Easter was a little unusual, because we normally convene
the entire clan only at Christmastime. I
am pleased to report that the day was happy and enjoyable, especially for a
family which has more than its share of bosses and very few subordinates.
Honestly,
we are a pretty normal group, with close-knit relationships. Yet, we are also human beings, so we have our
share of long-remembered resentments, chips on the shoulder, and just plain
grudges. Some are months old, some
decades. However, our core foundation is
a loving family unit which has been cultivated for many generations. That is why, throughout the years, we've
forgiven each other many times over. Then,
the thought bubble pops up over my head:
Maybe Easter is an appropriate time for more forgiveness!
So,
using myself as a guinea pig here, I think about absolution from the
perspective of my own life – not an easy task.
But, I do realize forgiveness has two sides. There’s the forgiving of others’
transgressions against me (whether they really did it or I just think they did doesn’t
matter.) I know that for many of
us, there is no hurry to let go of ancient grievances. And, the fact is, according to my newfound
interest in ancestry.com, many generations of Texas genes should take most of
my relatives into our 80's, 90's or even over 100 years old. So, we have plenty of time to defer “forgive
and forget” until we feel like going there.
That’s when the guinea pig on my right shoulder whispers “what better
time than now?”
Then,
further into my self-examination, I recognize the other side of forgiveness,
when I sheepishly recall those blurbs that slip from my lips before I can grab
them and stuff them back into my mouth. What my sweet spouse calls “flashfire
temper” when angry thoughts spout off the tip of my tongue, which tongue cools
off almost immediately, but leaves behind scorched earth. And that, my friends, is a perfect example of why
we also need to try to forgive ourselves.
It
seems to me that there is no more perfect time to contemplate forgiveness. After all, that is the essence of this family
Easter celebration - that the sins of Christians are pardoned through the
sacrifice of Jesus. It is the
quintessential opportunity to forgive our wrongdoings against each other. And, while we’re at it, perhaps we may even
forgive ourselves for our own failings.
Even
though he’s only thirty-something, performer/songwriter Matthew West puts it
pretty well when he sings, “There is no end to what its power can do. So, let it go and be amazed by what you see
through eyes of grace. The prisoner that
it really frees is you. Forgiveness.”
