I’m an imperfect person. (understatement of the century!) I’m also a rule-follower. I always have been ever since I was little. I hold myself & others to high standards. This is the reason why my family hates playing board games with me! haha This combination of traits means that forgiveness of others does not come easily to me. But God knows this about me. He & I have had many heart-to-hearts about my need to freely forgive others and give grace. It’s especially hard for me to grant forgiveness when someone has wronged me or someone I love. It just takes me much longer to come around than it might for another person. I believe deeply in loyalty, being a good friend, following rules, doing your fair share, & consideration of others. So when someone crosses those lines & treats me badly, I don’t jump to forgiveness right away. I’m working on it.
This summer has been a particularly difficult time dealing with this subject. There was a specific personal event that occurred in May of this year & I’m still not completely over it. It’s not important who it is or what they did. The point is that I still haven’t forgiven that person. After a conversation with my Mom about it, I grudgingly knew I needed to hit my knees & start praying. We always think of prayer to be a good, easy, wonderful thing! (and it IS wonderful!) But truthfully, when you’re still angry & cynical about the subject matter, sometimes prayer can be slightly bitter. It’s OK to admit it. I’m telling you right now everyone has had a moment when they DO NOT want to pray about something because it means they’re about to get a “kick-in-the-pants talking to” from God that they don’t want. He tends to give unsolicited advice. ;)
A few days after receiving the kick in the pants, I sat down to create my project for this post. I don’t always know what I’m going to do when I go to create for the blog; God speaks to me through the products & my feelings in the moment. I was searching through products & I flipped RIGHT to the 70×7 paper piece from the Illustrated Faith Pop Culture Die Cut Prompt set. I mean… if that wasn’t Him trying to get my attention, I don’t know what is. He sure knows His audience: speaking to me through scrapbook supplies!
Do you know the story to 70×7? Check out Matthew 18:21-22 for the parable:
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’
Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
God forgives eternally, and so shall we strive to emulate that. Forgiveness is a difficult thing. We feel entitled to an apology after being wronged, but we should be quicker to forgive so that if & when the apology comes, it can mean SO much more. Some people call this “being the bigger person,” but Jesus would probably call it “being a Christian.”
<3 Elaine
Illustrated Faith Faith Planner Stickers digital set by Shanna Noel | Illustrated Faith Faith Memo digital set by Elaine Davis | Illustrated Faith Breath of God stamp set by Jessy Christopher (retired) | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Genesis Colletion Flag It stickers | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Books of the Bible Little Bits stickers | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Genesis Collection Point It stickers | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Genesis Collection Say It- Colorful stickers | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Genesis Collection Wordfetti Black stickers | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Enamel Hearts in She Blooms Mix | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Genesis Collection Bible Mat | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Pop Culture Paper Pieces Die Cut Prompts | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Shanna’s Favorite Paint Set | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Paint Cards | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd pen | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd She Blooms 3x4s patterned paper | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Criss Cross washi tape | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Whatever is Lovely Treasures & Text stickers | Bella Blvd Clear Cuts in Orange Confetti
Thank you for sharing, Elaine. I could have written your first paragraph about myself – that explains me to a “t” and forgiveness is something I sometimes struggle with for those same reasons, too. Thank you for sharing not only beautiful art, but a beautiful message, too!
Good stuff, such good stuff sister – hugs!
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Forgiveness is very hard for me. I too am a rule follower. I never thought about those two things and holding myself and others to a high standard as being intertwined. You hit the nail on the head with that one, along with me too. Thanks for sharing and helping those of us that need it, to continue to work on our imperfect selves!
Love these colors together!
I’m a people pleaser… kinda… but a total RULE BREAKER! Well that isn’t true, I always learn the rules and find loopholes in the rules to push others to think and grow… including myself. I seem to forgive easily but not forget. I’m thankful that HE gives us that unsolicited advice!