The "F" word

From Captivating on forgiveness:

"We acknowledge that it hurt, that is mattered, and we choose to extend forgiveness to our fathers, to our mothers, to those who hurt us. This is not saying, "It didn't really matter"; it is not saying,"I probably deserved part of it anyway." Forgiveness says, "It was wrong. Very wrong. it mattered, hurt me deeply. And I release you. I give you to God. I will not be your captive here any longer."

Good way to put it. This reminds me of Les Miserables, when the bishop takes Jean Valjean in after getting out of prison, only to have him steal valuables from his house during the night and later have him returned by the police. When they arrive with Valjean, the bishop claims he gave the valuables to Valjean then proceeds to ask him why he had not taken the silver candlesticks as well. After the confused police leave, the bishop tells Valjean, "Now don't you forget, don't you ever forget, you promised to become a new man." He then says,"Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it back to God."

I love this story because it is such a blatantly obvious reminder of what God has done for us - He doesn't repay us according to our sins and what we deserve. Instead, he gives us the silver candlesticks and buys our freedom with it, offering us eternal life and forgiveness. He buys us back from evil and calls us to be new and honest men. I believe we are all in constant need of reminding of this.