Hold the Kool-Aid

Matthew 6:14 If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

Mark Twain, most famous for his classic novels Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, was also author of several travel books. He would take long trips and publish humorous articles about them. One time a group of friends wanted to send him a birthday greeting, but they had no idea where he was, so they prepared a birthday letter; they all signed it, and then addressed it to: Mark Twain, God Knows Where.

A few weeks later, they got a response from Twain. He sent a note with just two words: “He did.” 

This emphasizes part of the Gospel’s good news. God knows where we are and what we need. He comes to us wherever we are to give us the help and power we need in that given moment—like when we need to forgive.

Lewis Grizzard, writer and humorist, tells of two, small-town brothers who broke into a store; they were punished by being sent to Methodist Youth Fellowship every Sunday night for six months. The first night there, they beat up two fifth graders and threw a Cokesbury hymnal at the lady who brought cookies for the class. She ducked just in time, then, soft as an angel, said, “I don’t approve of what you did…and neither does Jesus. But if he can forgive you, I guess I’ll have to.” She handed them a plate of cookies.

Lewis Grizzard ended the story: And the last I heard, both those boys are daddies now with steady jobs…and they rarely miss a Sunday at church. That was the first miracle I ever saw.

If we were to ask that MYF leader today, “How did you put up with those rowdy boys?” She’d say, “Wasn’t me. I would’ve poured Kool-Aid on their heads and called the sheriff. But the spirit of Jesus was in me. It was the Holy Spirit within me that gave me the strength to forgive.”

It would be the same for you. If you are unable to forgive, if you are having great difficulty forgiving someone who has hurt you or disappointed you, it may be a spiritual red flag. Let the Holy Spirit do his job and he will enable you to forgive. It is a part of the power of God, given to you, if you will. The relief and consequence of that action may surprise you.

Ask God to help you give what he has given you.