She told me that when she got off work that night she was going to have her boyfriend over to tell him they should take a break. Even though after confessing to her and telling her again and again how sorry he was and how he knew what he did was wrong and it made him sick to know he was hurting her-the pain, confusion, and frustration my friend felt was palpable over the phone. Although his apology was sincere she questioned why he was still struggling when he says he loves her and God so much.
She asked me if I thought they should take a break?
Hmm now, I've known this couple for awhile and the fruit in their relationship far outweighs the stumbling blocks they have come across in the last few years, so I told her no and then asked her,"You know that verse in the Bible that says, 'Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'?" Romans 12:21.
She said, "Yeah."
"Well, what would it look like instead of getting angry at him, telling him all he's done wrong, and that you want a break, if after work you picked up one of his favorite things to eat and told him that you forgive him and that you love him?"
And it was as though within a sentence Jesus came in and sucked all the anger from my friend's heart and with excitement and compassion in her voice she said, "Yes, yes I would love to do that. I already know exactly what I can bring him. Oh Kimi, now I'm so excited to see him."
I hung up the phone so grateful for His Word and really hopeful for how my friend's night would go. It wasn't until after a few days later when her and I got to catch up that I was astounded at the grace Jesus gave this 22-year-old friend of mine to forgive the man she loves.
This is what happened when she got off work to meet up with him.
My friend knew her boyfriend loves apple pie so after work that night she stopped at Marie Calander's, but it was late and already closed-so she ran over to the grocery store and picked up a frozen Claim Jumper pie instead.When she got home she sprinkled graham cracker crust on it and put it in the oven. Her boyfriend was on his way over and she was excited to see him.
Expecting to get dumped for what he had done her boyfriend walked into the house, smelled the apple pie, and saw her standing there grinning.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"I'm baking you an apple pie," she said as she walked over to the kitchen him following her.
Stopping in front of the warm oven and in utter confusion he asked, "What? Why?"
And with love and confidence she repiled, "Because I want you to know I forgive you and I love you."
He stood there in front of the oven, his girlfriend who just this afternoon was crying and angry with him on the phone was now giving him love he didn't deserve. His jaw dropped, he reached out, grabbed her around the waist, and held her tight, "I don't deserve you. You truly are a gift from God."
Her voice gentle and passionate she went on to tell him all the ways she's seen him grow over the last year and told him how proud she was of him.
He continued to be amazed at her love for him.
The rest of the night they ended up talking, reading scripture and praying together.
As her and I sat there in the coffee shop catching up I was in tears at the absolute power of forgiveness. Things could have turned out far different for the both of them that night, but with God's grace, a few words, and an apple pie- what evil meant to destroy, God used for good.
May we continue to stop evil in it's tracks as we offer love and forgiveness to each other. Amen.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I (Jesus) have come that you may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10
"If anyone has caused [you] grief...the punishment inflicted on him by the majoritiy is sufficient for him. How instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore to reaffirm your love for him." 2 Corinthians 2:5-8
6 comments:
WOW!!! I don't even know them and I am in tears. Sometimes it so hard to forgive, but then I remember how much more it hurts to NOT forgive. I'm in tears. God is so amazing. The wisdom that He has given you is so beautiful, Kimi. You are such a gift.
Well said, baby girl! Great job in encouraging her. :)
Kimi, this is a great story. I find it interesting because we had a guest speaker at church a couple of weeks ago - an Adventist pastor - who, during his sermon, confessed that he struggles with a porn addition. He further clarified how perniscious this was by telling us that just last week he had managed to find a loophole in all the safeguards he had put on his computer to prevent him from viewing porn. His message to us was that we are covered by the righteousness of Jesus even when we are stuggling to overcome sin. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak"
Beautiful story! It's always hard to be the first one to reach out in forgiveness, but wow, the power of the blessing it produces is so awesome.
I've recently had a betrayal of trust in my marriage, and have been speaking to Him about forgiveness and asking him to take pain away so that we can move forward as a couple. I randomly stumbled across this blog, and I thank you. I asked for a message just minutes before I found this post.
Thank you.
:)
He does answer.
Re: Anonymous
Wow, thank you for sharing that with me. I'm speechless and amazed at the simple ways God reaches us.
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