Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Matthew 18:22

I had an 80 X 200-foot garden for 47 years. When I lived in a retirement home, I planted a garden in a 5 x 8 foot raised bed. I watered, fertilized, and trimmed two pepper plants until they were ready to pick. However, someone else picked them. Oh, I was irate. I said a few nasty words and was determined to find out who stole them.

A few weeks later while reading scripture, God said that vengeance is His and He would repay (Romans 12:19). I also found that God wants us to forgive those who hurt us by being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving just as Jesus forgave me (Ephesians 4:32). With the help of the Holy Spirit, I forgave the person who stole my peppers.

Paul Doenges
Fort Wayne, IN

Dear Lord, thank You for Your loving forgiveness. Help me forgive others as You forgive me. Amen.

Reflect: Think about ways to forgive others even when it feels difficult.

Read: Colossians 3:13 and Ephesians 4:32