A Legacy of Forgiveness by Chrystal Gilkey

“I’m glad Kai isn’t here today, Mrs. Gilkey. I will never forgive him for saying mean things to me yesterday.” Adam balled his hands into fists and glared at me as the rest of his class lined up to go to activity. It was no secret that the two boys had an altercation on the playground the day before.

“Adam, I know you are still angry with Kai, but it’s not good for you to hold on to all that anger towards him. You need to forgive him.”

“But he was such a jerk. How can I just let that go? How can I forgive him?”

I’ll never forget that conversation at school. Adam questioned something that even grown adults struggle with. How can we truly forgive those that have wronged us?

In 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, Paul testified how he forgave in the person of Christ. We receive the power to forgive when we put on Christ—when we are acting with His mindset and His heart. “To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (KJV)

Paul also gives a warning to the Christian. When we hold a grudge or are unable to forgive, we are giving Satan an advantage over us. Satan doesn’t want us to be an effective witness for God. We have to look past our hurt and pain at the bigger picture. We are in a spiritual battle. Satan can and will disable the child of God physically and spiritually with the weapon of unforgiveness.

When I think of forgiveness, I can’t help but think of the amazing story of Steve Saint. His father, missionary Nate Saint, was killed by the Aucas tribesmen in Ecuador. I can’t imagine it was easy for Steve to return and minister to the people that killed his father. However, Christ not only gave him the power to forgive them; but also the very man that thrust the spear into his father’s body. Because he could forgive, many of the Aucas tribe were saved. His testimony from book to the movie has influenced the lives of millions of people.

Christ gave Steve the power to forgive, but Steve also had something else guiding him in forgiveness. Steve had a pattern of forgiveness drawn by his parents for him to trace in his own life.

“After my dad and the other men died, my mom continued praying for the people who killed them. By the time I met them, I wasn’t thinking of them as the people who killed my father; I was thinking of them as being the most special people in the world … I had a heritage of forgiveness from my parents …” 1

What an amazing legacy to leave behind to those we love! Lord, help me leave a legacy of love and forgiveness to my children. Don’t let me leave them with the dry remnants of bitterness and regret.

1 - Mark I. Pinsky, Faith and Forgiveness, Orlando Sentinel, January 2006, Dailypress.com

Chrystal Gilkey

A Texas girl born and raised, Chrystal Gilkey resides in Arkansas, with her husband, three children, and two cats. A published author, Chrystal writes to encourage and strengthen people’s faith in God. Connect with her at chrystaljgilkey.com or find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @chrystaljgilkey