The holiday season can be a joyful time of year and full of great memories; however, for some, it can also be a tough time if they have lost a loved one or are holding on to unforgiveness. We all come together to spend time with family and friends so the dynamics of finally coming together to all be jolly is not always that joyful and fun. The emotions and the pain can come up and we have to just learn how to forgive others. I am here to tell you that not one person is blameless or without flaws, so if we walk together in grace and forgiveness it will start to free you from the bondage and pain from your past. I am all about living for the future. But I know it can be difficult if there are some hardships or bitterness from the past your still hanging on to. You may have some issues or pain from the past you have chosen to overlook or push under, but the better choice is to completely forgive and move on.  I know for me I have learned that forgiveness is freedom!

Choose forgiveness it says in the Bible that you are to “Be Merciful, even as your Father is merciful.Judge not, and you will not be judged. Condemn not, and you will not be condemned: Forgive and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:36-37.

If you look at my life and think it was easy or is absolutely amazing, then you have to look deeper to see all the pain and hardships I have endured over the years too! I grew up with 5 sisters and we have all had to learn to have grace and mercy on one another at times. It is so easy to see the flaws in others, but we don’t want to dig deep and see our own flaws that are so apparent to the world.  I promise you there have been struggles and lots of hard roads that have come and tried to stop me! I have learned that to really move forward in your life you have to forgive the people that have hurt you or tried to take what you thought was your future away!  This really truly wipes the pain away and you can move forward into your great calling!  I am all about living for the future and not looking back on your past! Your past isn’t what defines you or makes you great! The future and the decisions you make TODAY will be the ones that make huge stepping stones into your great future.

I was once told that when you have unforgiveness in your heart towards another person you actually hold the key to the jail cell they are in and if your deciding to hold that key of unforgiveness you are right there with them in that jail cell shackled yourself. Why don’t you just throw that key away and forgive that person so that you can walk free of the pain and never stay right there in that jail cell with the person who hurt you?! God will then have a chance to work on their heart!

Lewis B. Smedes wrote in his book, Forgive and Forget: “When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself.”

So what about you? What hardships are you facing today as we approach the holiday season? What hardships are preventing you from enjoying the celebration of Jesus’s Christ’s birthday this Christmas season? Whatever they are, I’d like to encourage you to place them before God. Call upon Jesus! FORGIVE! In God’s timing he will respond and answer your prayers!