Forgive Them All

This is not easy to do - still working on it. Based on a real dream I had.

As I laid it out before me

It was black and scarlet red

All the sins they had done to me

To this time and place had led.

 

There was cold and such injustice

There were cruel and hurting words

All these aches I kept inside me

As years flew by swift as birds.

 

Jesus said don’t hold forever

The wrongs that cause us pain

But how could I, imperfect sinner

Erase from my heart the stain?

 

How could the falsehood of a friend

Or abuser of a child

The attacker and foul gloater

Deserve a thought so mild?

 

I was eaten up with fury

Of tears there was no end

With evil people and past hardships

I my weakness did defend.

 

Then one night I had a vision

I was curled in God’s own hand

As He comforted my crying

I began to understand.

 

He said, “Enemy or brother,

Who should rule the heart that’s yours?

Why let them steal years of joy

When from Me such blessing pours?

 

“You work hard and have a good life

With a family whom you love

With your own two hands you’ve made it

And with guidance from Above.

 

“In ten years your understanding

Of this world has grown so much

You have left those toxic people

So why let them your heart touch?

 

“Forgive them all, let heartache go,

Remember your own failings, too

Forgive them all, mad, evil or weak,

And my peace will come to you.

 

“Even if they’re undeserving

Even if you don’t know why

Trust in Me, they will find justice

Now, my daughter, cease to cry.”

 

So I wiped my tears and smiled,

Put on strength and stood up tall.

“Though it will take time and effort,

Father, I’ll forgive them all.”

Reviews

[Clockwork]

Attempting to convey a dream that contains such a divine encounter is truly difficult. However, I believe you did an excellent job of delivering a poem full of grace. Your work show us the transcendent power of God.

One of my favorite things about this piece is that you take us on a journey. We see the struggle of the speaker accept the divine grace of God. Then you have the life changing lines written from the perspective of God: Who should rule the heart that’s yours?/Why let them steal years of joy/When from Me such blessing pours?" Those lines are truly lessons to live by. You teach us that we can be makes of peace instead of living with vengeful hearts.

Well done with this poem!

[KAREN]

This is wonderful poetry! It conveys a message to the reader. It's sometimes hard to forgive and really hard to forget, but with God it can be done!

[Almond Syiem]

A meaningful poem Susanna. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Jordan's Back]

Well, I like your poem, and I like jesus too, but i was molestion over 100 thousand times for ten years, and i cant and wont forgive. I am glad you that strong of a person. Nice Write!

[Susanna F]

Thanks. I survived some of that too, which is one reason I wrote this. I'm not saying I've ALREADY forgiven everyone who's wronged me, but I can definitely see the benefits of not obsessing over the anger and pain, and that's a good place to start. Not everyone deserves my good will, but I can work on feeling better myself, at least. Moving on, you know? But it took a long time to even reach that point.

[Almond Syiem]

Hey Jordan's Back, I like the fact that you are being real about your pain. No, it's not possible to forgive on our own when deep and damaging things happen to us. In my case, I also discovered that I did not want to forgive as well even the thought crossed my mind a few times. Whenever it did, I decided that I won't. I am a grown man now but when I was younger I was sexually, emotionally and spiritually abused by a man who claimed to be a good Christian. This happened over a period of 10 years. Not a 100 thousand times but at least a thousand times. Because of him I hated Jesus, God, Christianity. Later in life, unexpectedly, Jesus invaded my life and led me through a process of healing that has crossed 15 years now. Because he knew I couldn't forgive the person on my own, he has helped me and enabled to release genuine forgiveness numerous times throughout this journey. The abuse affected almost every area of my life but God's used it somehow to bring good out of evil. I see that you posted this 2 years ago and don't know if you will read this. Whether you do or don't, I pray his healing presence over your life.