Sara’s Story

Sara is a Firefighter/EMT working for the Boca Raton Fire Department. I had been talking with my daughter earlier this week about possible subjects for this Sunday’s service and we decided on “Forgiveness.” When she had discussed this with her friend Sara, Sara contributed her thoughts.

“Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, let’s go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, with an increased ability to wish the offender well.”

This is what Google, actually Wikipedia, has defined as forgiveness. Let each word soak in after reading the definition above.

How many times have we been lied to, hurt, done wrong and, in turn, became so mad and spiteful? Of course, it’s easy to be mad! It’s easy in the heat of the moment to lash out and give it right back or do something out of your character. It’s far more difficult to take a step back and do the right thing out of Love.

“Hating someone else is like drinking the poison yourself and expecting the other person to die.”

When you’re with someone and are cheated on after being told you were the one that has forever changed them for the better… you don’t know what you’ve done wrong and start questioning everything you had done for them. It isn’t, and wasn’t, your fault! Forgive… there is someone else that will hold you closer.

When you’re dedicated to your work, always going the extra mile, yet you have someone giving you a hard time no matter how hard you try. Your hard work intimated them and now they are trying to bring you down with them… Forgive. There is someone else noticing your true grit and you have gained their respect which is tenfold more of value than that of the person treating you poorly.

When a patient (remember, Sara is a Paramedic) snaps at you, stating you are the worst ever, that you are doing nothing for them… Forgive. Pray that God can heal their illness and grant them happiness.

When a series of unfortunate events leads to the separation of an entire family, your own flesh and blood trying to eliminate your entire existence… Forgive. Your family is impossible to eliminate because family always comes first.

When you finally realize how much someone Loves you after forgiving you more than you deserve… Love them and never let them go. This person is rarer than any precious stone put on a ring. They are worth more than the winning lotto ticket that would empty all the banks around the world. Their Love is one of a kind.

True Love forgives!

Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies (predictions), they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. Love Always!