Brenda led her small group...
Illustration
Object:
Brenda led her small group in a study on forgiveness. Through the study she discovered
unresolved issues in her own life. She had not thought about an incident in over a decade.
Her brother had hurt her and she was never able to forgive him. Her brother had never
acknowledged that he did anything to hurt her.
Family gatherings were filled with tension. Brenda did not want to face Paul. At holiday gatherings Brenda would remain cordial, and never spoke of her hurt. Brenda shared with the group what had happened between her and her brother. She had never told anyone about the situation. With her small group's encouragement and prayers Brenda decided that she would speak with her brother. She arranged to meet him for lunch. She was finally ready to put the hurt behind her -- to forgive him once and for all. She knew it would not be easy but was necessary for her.
The time with her brother went better than she ever could have imagined. Paul remembered the incident; however, he did not realize how much he had hurt his sister. He was puzzled why she never confided in him anymore. The two siblings cleared the air that day and were able to reestablish their relationship. Brenda was able to truly forgive her brother only after he acknowledged her pain and apologized.
It's never easy to confront someone who has hurt us but it is always the right thing to do. Philemon discovered this truth in his own life. Onesimus had stolen from him and ran away. Onesimus became a believer after meeting Paul.
Family gatherings were filled with tension. Brenda did not want to face Paul. At holiday gatherings Brenda would remain cordial, and never spoke of her hurt. Brenda shared with the group what had happened between her and her brother. She had never told anyone about the situation. With her small group's encouragement and prayers Brenda decided that she would speak with her brother. She arranged to meet him for lunch. She was finally ready to put the hurt behind her -- to forgive him once and for all. She knew it would not be easy but was necessary for her.
The time with her brother went better than she ever could have imagined. Paul remembered the incident; however, he did not realize how much he had hurt his sister. He was puzzled why she never confided in him anymore. The two siblings cleared the air that day and were able to reestablish their relationship. Brenda was able to truly forgive her brother only after he acknowledged her pain and apologized.
It's never easy to confront someone who has hurt us but it is always the right thing to do. Philemon discovered this truth in his own life. Onesimus had stolen from him and ran away. Onesimus became a believer after meeting Paul.
