Yesterday,an incident occured in which I was called upon to help someone. It had to do with forgiveness of a parent. In this season when the message of Christmas abounds there are many emotions that are anything but forgiving.

Yesterday,an incident occured in which I was called upon to help someone. It had to do with forgiveness of a parent. In this season when the message of Christmas abounds there are many emotions that are anything but forgiving. So I'm posting this article that I have on a Christian site,from 2001.

MATTHEW 6:15 " BUT IF YOU DON'T FORGIVE OTHERS THEIR SINS, GOD WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS."

When I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, I realized that no matter what our possessions, if our relationships are not good, then what we have isn't worth much. Through the Holy Spirit I learned that I would have to put God first, then all the rest would fall into place. Since I did that, all of my present relationships are in great shape, and my past failures have been healed.

In the past I authored and led a women's ministry in which one of the topics was mother and daughter relationships. Some find it hard to believe that Christian women have trouble forgiving their mom's for past hurts, but it's true . I wrote the following prayer for those who can't seem to forgive. This prayer can apply to anyone not only mother's, but father, brother, sister, friend etc.

Heavenly Father, one of Your commandments tells us to honor our father and mother. We are also to love our family members as well as our neighbors and friends. God I do not think my ( )is honorable. My ( ) hurt me terribly. We have a very poor relationship and whatever I try doesn't change a thing. However, I have concluded that Your command is more important than my hurt feelings.Therefore, I have decided to try to adjust my attitude, and begin a process of replacing my negative thoughts towards ( ) with more positive ones such as Paul exhorts in Col. 3:12-14 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bear with each other, and FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCES you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And, over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."(NIV)Thank You Father that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."(Phil 4:13), and for hearing my prayer in the precious name of Jesus, knowing that it is only through His cross that reconciliation is established. AMEN! (I recommend reading all of Colossians.)


I have seen and spoken with so many people who can't forgive and the person that wronged them is sailing along in life with no worries or cares while the unforgiver is filled with resentment and unhappiness. It is such a waste. You must change your attitude for your own sake since you are the one who is suffereing for it, not the one whom you can't forgive.

Usually when a person realizes what they are doing to themselves as an unforgiver,they begin to take steps to remedy the situation. I hope and pray this article will help you to do the same, if you are harboring unforgiveness in your heart.

Many times forgiveness is onesided.While we are obeying a forgiving heart the other person may not be ready. As Christians and believers in God, we are obligated to forgive. So, no matter where the other person stands we must abide by the Lord's teaching, to entrust the situation into God's hands relying in faith on the Holy Spirit to do the work in you. We do not have the power to forgive on our own. Only the Spirit of God can soften the heart, and you must be willing to let Him regardless of how the other person is feeling.

An important thing to remember is that along with forgiveness we must also forget. God will not accept only half a loaf. He told us that He forgave and forgot our sins. The two must go together. If we expect it from Him, why should we not do the same. So forgive and forget, but if you can't then ask the Holy Spirit to work on your behalf until you can. I hope this helps all who are struggling to forgive, so you can be rid of the burden it causes.

Eileen T. Waldron ©