9/28/10

A Prose Piece I Wrote for English

What is real that isn't measurable?

Forgiveness; by far one of the hardest things to measure, how much to give, how much to receive. The power of prayer; a power so great it can move mountains and reach to the ends of the earth. Sincere forgiveness is the most difficult gift to give because not only is pardon being given and pain being released, but a piece of the heart is lost. The offender can take that piece and do whatever they wish to it; be it a continuous battering or a consistent nurturing. Prayer, the easiest gift to give; a loving request that God will work in His mightiest ways. The hardest words I have ever had to say have been, “Can you forgive me?” Equally as difficult, praying out loud has left me frightened, self-conscious, and tongue-tied because I’m too afraid of what someone might think of my requests and eloquence more so than what the Holy and Almighty Lord thinks. For some reason humans desire to hold on to the pain caused to them and return it tenfold. The sweetest release is giving it all to God, healer of hearts, and savior of souls, and being able to recognize His voice when He speaks.


I’ve heard story upon story about people whose families have been brutally murdered or accidentally killed and when the individual came face to face with the one who took their loved one, they were able to look them in the eye and say I forgive you. I like to think that I would be so confident in my spiritual walk that I would be able to do the same, but pray I’m never faced with the situation. But it scares me that even little things are hard to forgive; hurtful words, mean glances, honest mistakes. I’ve come to find that only God can mend a heart and it happens over the course of His perfectly planned schedule. I understand now that Christians suffer for many legitimate reasons; no pain is ever without cause. As humans, we like to hurt; we continually cause ourselves pain, and for what reason? For pity? For sympathy? For nothing. Through prayer, we gain wisdom; through forgiveness, we gain peace.

I have discovered that humbling oneself and asking for forgiveness, as well as, asking for God’s blessing on any situation is far more fulfilling than any method of revenge could ever be. Forgiveness isn’t a one way thing; it takes two to Tango. Both parties have to recognize they were in the wrong; one for holding a grudge, bad thoughts about the offender are inevitable, and the other for trespassing against their friend, intentionally or unintentionally.

Sin is an awfully ugly thing; inherently instilled within our genetic make-up. Neither can we escape it, nor redeem ourselves when in the wrong, being almost every moment of our lives. But for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction that occurs. For every sin, there is a grace so beautiful, it’s truly unfathomable. When beginning to grasp the immensity of this concept called grace, brokenness and a new desire to be obedient to God as He has been obedient to every lowly sinner burns within the soul and heart and mind.

My sins are real, but immeasurable. God’s loving grace is real, but immeasurable. And for that, I am immeasurably grateful.



Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

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