Forgiveness

Paul reminds us in Colossians 2:13, When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.

It reminds me of a story that so perfectly illustrates forgiveness.  "A missionary was walking along a trail in East Africa with some friends, when became aware of a delightful odor that filled the air.  He looked up in the trees and around at the bushes in an effort to discover where it was coming from.  Then his friends told him to look down at the small blue flower growing along the path.  Each time they crushed the tiny blossoms under their feet, more of its sweet perfume was released into the air.  Then his friends said, "We call it the forgiveness flower."

In the end, what can be learned from this story is that the forgiveness flower does not wait until we ask forgiveness for crushing it. It does not release its fragrance in measured doses.  It does not ask for an apology; it merely lives up to its name and forgives-freely, fully, richly.