UNDERSTANDING FORGIVENESS: What is forgiveness? Someone once said, "...it's the sweet smell flowers give off when they're trampled upon." No one equals Christ when it comes to forgiveness! On the cross, He uttered the words, " and Father forgive them for they know not what they do!" He expressed the perfect example of forgiveness! Yet, our hurts are real. Our pain is under our skin and the scars linger. How do we forgive, how can we let go of the hurt that left an indelible and lasting consequence in our soul? Our life was marred! We've all been offended, you, and this preacher! What are we to do? We are at the cross roads of forgiveness! We can choose to live in grudges, bitterness, wilting away inwardly, fading into a fruitless life; Or, we can choose to let go and allow the grace of God to inundate us teaching us to release our offender into the hands of God. You can't undo the past but there is a God who can untangle your present and teach you to daily live a life of forgiveness. Understanding forgiveness starts at the cross!