The Flood of Forgiveness

What is it that holds you back from generosity?

I was driving through the gorge yesterday on my way to visit my parents. One of the most impressive sites along the columbia river gorge is the dam at The Dalles. I love watching the power of the water when it comes pushing through the dam. The explosion of raw power as it foams and froths out of the concrete walls. The water brings life though the electricity produced, by watering the gardens and farms, by providing transportation and recreation for all the boats out there. There was one place we cruised by that must have had 30 fishing boats all gathered together. It reminds me of the joy and recreation I have shared with my dad on the river fishing in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Idaho.

I remember the first trip that I took to Alaska with my dad. There was lots of fishing to be done. My dad always wanted me to be catching fish so if he would get one on the line and I didn't have one he would hand the fishing pole over to me so I could bring it in. Every afternoon we would spend some time together in the lodge playing games and reading a book together. My dad doesn't really like playing games, but for me he would and he had fun doing it as well. I remember these times when dad poured his life into me. I remember them especially strong as I sit here in his house with some of the fish from Alaska mounted on the wall and his birthday celebration to be had this afternoon.

But just as the dam holds back the life the water can pour forth on the land, bitterness can hold back the love and life we would pour forth on our families. In Gen 45 Joseph can't stand it any longer and he has to tell his brothers who he is. He is breaking apart like the dam cracking and gushing forth Joseph begins to weep. He sends all his attendants out, but it doesn't do much good because his weeping can be heard all the way into Pharaoh's house. As I read this story it became very apparent to me Joseph had finally experienced forgiveness, I can just see the repentance of bitterness and un-forgiveness in his life breaking apart the dam and the life and love for his family finally able to flow forth. Once the flow begins it can't be stopped, he give words of forgiveness to his brothers, he gives land to his family, he gives clothing to all his family, he sends carts to bring his family back, and he sends donkey's loaded with provisions and silver to his father.

I know that bitterness has been a dam for me at different times just over little things. Laura doesn't help with the dishes and I hold back affection, Lorelai hurts my ears by yelling to loud and I hold back a kind word, there are plenty of these things we do subconsciously. If we could be fulling accepting and fully forgiving to those around us, the generosity of love allowed to flow through us would fill and bring life to those who come in contact with us.

I pray today to be free from any bitterness any sense of vengeance or payback, any type of justified self-righteousness so love affection, and encouragement can generously flow from God through me to those in my life. Let us repent as Joseph did for repentance is our forward motion it is the agent of change in our lives and the key setting us free.