February 2017
Reflections of God's Goodness
In this month dedicated to love, I invite you to choose love and forgiveness as a way to a healthy, holy life!
Life is full of bumps and bruises. We get our feelings hurt - or even worse - experience real meanness from a friend, co-worker, or even a stranger. Anger and unforgiveness can take root in our hearts in ways that hurt us more than others.
God in His goodness has forgiven us every transgression. He sent Jesus to save us and open the gates of His mercy. We need only ask for forgiveness – and to forgive those who hurt us.
Forgiveness is not easy, especially when we have been deeply hurt. It is a process that begins with the decision to forgive. When we are willing to choose forgiveness, God will work in our hearts and souls to bring us peace. You may not feel differently, but when you choose to forgive another person because you are forgiven, all things change. You change.
God has created us to need forgiveness – both received and given - for our very health! God plants His desires for us in all kinds of places – so even on a website like the Mayo Clinic we can find encouragement to practice forgiveness!
Perhaps you have heard before that unforgiveness, or the unwillingness to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die! When we refuse to forgive, it is our own bodies and souls that suffer. When we harden our heart toward another person, our unforgiveness can begin to infect other relationships and other areas of our life as well.
The benefits of practicing forgiveness, according to the Mayo Clinic, include lower blood pressure, less anxiety, stress or hostility, and a stronger immune system! Forgiveness can also improve heart health, increase self-esteem and decrease symptoms of depression.
When we forgive others, God promises to forgive all our sins too! Our God is indeed good.
Happy Valentine’s Day…
Blessings and love,
Sister Mary Ann Barnhorn
Director of Development
Love is patient, love is kind… it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing…It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
