Forgiveness

Dear Ones,

This is a hard subject, but it's so important. Forgiving others of little slights isn't too bad, but forgiving others for lifelong damage done to either someone we love or to ourselves is terribly difficult. Maybe these thoughts will help you to see a different perspective and to see the importance of letting go.

Can you forgive a dreadful hurt?
Can you forgive again?
Can you, deep in your heart see love, where hate has been?

Can you have peace deep in your soul,
peace that makes the anger go?
Can you remember something good in the one who hurt you so?

Oh, you may say that it's not hate, but only hurt you feel,
but when you cannot let it go, it's hatred that is real.

Our God commands that we forgive with a forgiveness that's like His.
We may say, “It's not the same.”
God will tell us that it is.

Or we may say, "God, you don't understand the pain this one has caused."

Oh,

think again to whom you speak, and then you'll have to pause,
and remember what he did for you while hanging on the tree;
the pain, the torture and the shame that He bore for all to see.

And yet He cried out "God forgive them", as they caused His agony.
Forgiveness was the reason that He died on Calvary.

Can you forgive the one who hurt you?
Can you begin to love anew?
When we see God's love for us

we begin forgiveness too.

Yes, you can forgive a dreadful hurt and you can live without the pain
of memories that have pierced your heart
and let the hatred reign.

© Diane Gruchow 2010

My God is in Control

Dear ones. I wrote this little poem years ago at a time when my darling husband had been fighting for life in intensive care. We had just moved to this town and didn't know anyone. Our children were in another part of the country and at the start of Ron's struggle I wasn't able to contact them. It was just God and me. But He was there with me in the night and I knew it!

Through the tears of despair, and of sorrow,

and care

that were clouding my eyes and my heart,
through the haze of my pain,

or when worry would reign,

a glimmer of hope seems to start.

Because as I look around I see

mountains majesty calling down to me,

and rolling clouds on high waving as they fly.

I hear the thunder clapping hands

at my Lord's command.

And there's lightning flashing bright

bringing heavenly light.

And then I watch the little ants that build

and find my broken heart is filled.

Because all these wonders show

what my old heart should know.

My God is in Control.

© Diane Gruchow 2010

He's in This Place

In John 14:27 Jesus is saying

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid." You may want to say the following with me.

I'm in this place. My God has put me here.
I'm in His grace, no matter when or where.
He'll walk with me through sorrow and through care.

I'm in this place.
I'm in this time.
I'm not alone.

I'll be content. I'll meet each day with song.
He's always there to wipe a tear or right a wrong,
and when I'm weak, He's by my side to make me strong.

I'm in this place.
I'm in this time.
I'm not alone.

God's in this home. His arms surround me here.
God's in this night. He makes the dawn appear.
God's in my life, in all that I hold dear.

He's in this place.
He's in this time.
I'm not alone.

© Diane Gruchow 2010

© Diane Gruchow 2010