Forgiving Instead of Resenting - Lenten Example

Today I had to force myself, literally, to forgive instead of resent someone.

My middle-aged nephew is out of work. His last employer called and let him go on the 27th and gave no reason. However, when the unemployment folks called the employer, early last week, the owner claimed my nephew had been "written up" and "advised" not once, but "multiple" times about being rude to customers, rude to his co-workers, and for other reasons.

This was not true but we realized the employer was trying to block the unemployment benefits to avoid having his rate increased. Since there was no paperwork to back up the allegations, and since my nephew had already given his side of the issue in his telephone interview, we didn't worry too much.

Today, the unemployment contact called again. This time, she said the employer suddenly claimed that he outright fired my nephew because on his last day of work, my nephew had made three orders in a row incorrectly. He further claimed that when he faced my nephew with a write-up about it, my nephew lost his temper and walked out of the shop before his shift ended.

This was an even more blatant lie that the earlier ones. My nephew had finished that shift and come home with every expectation of going back in two days later on his next scheduled day.

We are now very concerned about which person the unemployment folks will believe - the shop owner or my nephew. True, he can appeal a denial. That would cause another delay of at least a month or two with scheduling a mediation visit with the two parties involved - the owner and my nephew.

Back to my own personal issue. I was able to keep myself from wishing all kinds of harm on that owner for his complete disregard for the truth. Forgiveness was a lot harder.

Fortunately, I was able to remember that this is Lent. I made myself think for a few minutes about Christ's last days. During Holy Week, he went through false accusations, too. In all that time, never once did he wish evil on his persecutors. Of course, I am not nearly as holy or saintly as He. But, I can at least try to follow his example, difficult as it may be.

Father, forgive that man, please, for what he did to my nephew, for I want to believe he knew not what he was doing to our household just to avoid a higher tax rate for his company. And thank you for helping me to remember how your own Son handled a similar situation 2,000 years ago.

Lent's Good Intentions Gone Astray

Here it is, almost half way through Lent, and I've gone so off track with my plans to spend a few moments each day meditating about Christ's 40 days in the desert. I didn't plan to spend a long time each day - no more than ten minutes. I reasoned that even on a truly horrible day, I could squeeze in that much time for him.

Obviously, I have not succeeded. One of my other Lenten efforts, to completely give up chocolate, is still in the success-stage. But that is not nearly as important to me as the daily mini-meditations I had hoped for.

I could con myself into thinking that reading one of the two-or-three daily spiritual emails I receive would satisfy my personal promise, but I'd be kidding only myself.

Reading is not meditating.

Meditating, IMHO, means really thinking about the subject. Even now, writing this, I am not meditating.

The good thing about our wonderful and loving Savior is that he is ever-forgiving. That means that I can just try again tomorrow, but I must, in my heart, make a real effort.

In fact, when I climb into bed tonight, in a short while, I will give some thought to those 40 days and nights, before I fall asleep.

Lord Jesus, please forgive my lack of effort lately. I do care and I will try again. Thank you for your everlasting love and forgiveness.

How Many Times Will He Forgive Me?

I am all too human, I fear. Tonight I realized there were a few things I had put off and now it is too late to take care of them. I will survive the problems this creates. However, I know that this also means I need to pray and ask for even more help from the Lord. I also have to admit I procrastinated, yet again.

You have no idea how many times I have done this. At 71, I am no longer working outside the house. But for over 50 years, I did work on many jobs. In those years, I had no trouble with organization. I had no trouble remembering to handle my to-do lists. I had no trouble doing those tasks on the lists.

So, what is wrong with me now? Part of it, I'm sure, is that I no longer have that paycheck-motivation that paid employment offers. Part of it is my age. We cram things into our heads, year after year. At my age, my mind is chock full of stuff. Some of it is bound to be delayed when I try to retrieve it. Part of it is that my life is a bit erratic right now and other issues distract me.

Back to the problem. I am embarrassed to yet again ask for his forgiveness for my putting things aside until it is too late. Still, I take comfort in the verse where Jesus explains how often we should forgive others...
Luke 17:4 "Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

The way I see it, if Jesus tells us to forgive others this often, then we who are made in God's image should surely be able to trust that God himself will forgive us that often, in that way.

Father, thank you for your patience with me. Thank you for forgiving me over and over, and please fill me with all the grace and gifts I need to try again - and again.

The Importance of Today, not Tomorrow

On Christmas Day, 2009, I posted about a great article I read in an issue of the Saturday Evening Post. For some odd reason, my blog stats show a sudden surge in interest for that one. At first, I couldn't even remember what I had written, so I pulled it up and reviewed it. It moved me today as deeply as it did back then.

I've decided to share it once more with all of you.

The article is called "Saying Sorry," by Mitch Albom, and it can be found online at this link.

Because our charity crafters experienced a sudden passing of one of our members this past week, this article reaffirms, for me, the importance of not waiting until tomorrow to do what must be done today.

Basically, it is about forgiveness. I am Christian, specifically a Catholic. This article discusses a Jewish tradition. Our faith is based on a magnificent Jewish carpenter, and this article reaches the depths of my soul.

Please do yourself a favor and read it all. The first part is wonderful in its discussion of forgiveness. The very last part is the part that will always stay with me, or at least I pray that it will. It illustrates the importance of taking care of spiritual issues now, today, and not waiting until tomorrow.

Dearest Lord, thank you for once again bringing this to my attention. Please do so any time I need to be reminded of its importance in my life.