....Interestingly, when I tuned in to Sunny FM around 11:15am today, I heard Rev. Andy Yawson preaching about forgiveness. He gave an example of how we sometimes join a friend or a relative to 'hate' or 'be angry' with another person - and said 'the day they reconcile, you may not know'. :) Imagine carrying a grudge 'on behalf of' another person, getting to a restaurant, and seeing that the said 'enemy' and the one you 'joined' are having a nice conversation over lunch. :) 

What I had wanted to share before my radio-listening session:)....

"I read a story about a wise older monk and his young apprentice who were walking together along a forest trail. Their monastery had a rule forbidding all contact with women. Coming to a river with a fast-flowing current, they saw an old woman weeping near the shoreline. She asked for help, saying that she couldn’t cross the river on her own. Without a word, the older monk picked up the woman and carried her to the other side. She went on her way while he and his young colleague continued on their journey. Two and a half hours passed without a word being spoken, but the young monk was seething on the inside. When he could contain himself no longer, he blurted out, “My Lord, why did you carry that woman across the river? You know that we are not supposed to touch a woman.” The wise older monk looked down at the young man and said, “I put her down hours ago. Why are you still carrying her?”

Good question. Why are you still carrying the burdens from the past? Isn’t it time to put them down once and for all?

Some of us are walking around with a heavy load of bitterness and frustration. It’s time to lay that burden down. God never meant for you to carry it around like you do. Maybe it’s resentment toward your parents or toward your employer. Maybe there’s someone who has done you wrong and it’s been eating your lunch. Day and night you dream of a chance to get even. Maybe it’s a friend who let you down in a big way. Maybe it’s someone you trusted who walked all over you. Whatever it is, it’s time to lay that burden down." - Ray Pritchard.

4th October 2024, Ghana