Page 86 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 9

HEALTH & WELLNESS

becomes necessary to find shelter in and then hoping it will kill your ness, we must forgive ourselves as
a safe calm harbor protected from enemies.” He has and does forgive us? When
the wind and waves. In a quiet har- we have finally accepted this truth
bor where rest and restoration can The antidote to this poison is and have acted on it, a weight will
be experienced and even repairs FORGIVENESS. It’s important to be lifted and we will experience the
can be made so when it is time to note that as humans, we may have peace and calm of the safe harbor
continue the journey, the boat and trouble forgetting, but we can let it of forgiveness.
crew are ready to continue toward go and chose not to dwell on the
the destination, rested, well stocked offense or the offender through Be kind to one another, ten-
and seaworthy. Such is the case in the action of forgiveness. If one is der-hearted, forgiving each other,
our own lives - spiritually, mentally, tired of being battered about and just as God in Christ also has forgiv-
emotionally and physically. weighed down to the point of sink- en you. (Ephesians 4:32, NASB)
ing beneath the waves, true peace
The turbulent times we face as can be found in the safe harbor of
individuals very often occur in the forgiveness. It may sound counter
context of relationships. These neg- intuitive, but forgiveness is for the
ative issues can seriously throw us forgiver. It’s not even necessary for
off course. Marriages, family bonds, the person or people who have hurt
friendships and workplace relation- us to ask for our forgiveness, nor is
ships can be fragile in the best of it necessary for you make contact
times, if they are not managed and with them. The act of forgiveness
maintained with care. In fact the is for your holistic wellness. The
outcome of stormy relationships famous self-help author and speak-
can be extremely damaging and in er Tony Robbins states it this way:
some cases debilitating. The emo- “Forgiveness is a gift you give your-
tional pain experienced in turbulent self.” As a Christ follower, I would
or severed relationships can also take this a giant step further…for-
result in physical pain or illness. I giveness is a gift, an ability God has
know many of us have experienced given us in order to fully experience
this. It’s where the term “heartache” His grace and peace.
comes from.
If you are a believer in our Creator
The interesting and sad thing Father, His Son, Holy Spirit and
about us humans is that we tend to the Holy Scriptures, then you likely
ruminate and focus our thoughts, know the power of forgiveness that
feelings and energy on negative oc- He provides daily in our lives as
currences that have taken place in we live in that constant state of, not
the past or are still remaining in the only having been forgiven, but in David M. Jones is a
present. This is where the turbulent the present state of being forgiven. counselor and lecturer at Africa
storms are formed in our lives, Does it not make sense that if we Nazarene University, Nairobi,
whipping up damaging waves of are accepting of this mysterious Kenya. He can be reached at:
resentment, regret, bitterness, anger and life changing phenomenon that dmjones1010@gmail.com
and sadness. These waves are often we should now take the action of
created without us realizing - and it passing on and sharing the forgive-
is toxic. Somehow we believe that ness that we have received by grace,
if we hang on to the resentment, to those that have offended us?
we are stronger and in control; that After we have forgiven all who have
we are inflicting punishment on caused us pain in any way - we must
those that have offended us. That is now come to the point of forgiving
a mistaken thought process. Nel- ourselves. Again, I ask you, does it
son Mandela in his wisdom wrote, not make perfect sense that if we
“Resentment is like drinking poison have accepted our Father’s forgive-

86 | Heal . restore . rebirth . Afrika