But after looking over the nation, I find he is the best man for the job. So Stanton became Abraham Lincoln s Secretary of War and rendered an invaluable service to his nation and his president. Not many years later Lincoln was assassinated. Many laudable things were said about him, but of all the great statements shared, the words of Stanton remain among the greatest. It took courage for Lincoln to actively forgive his enemy, not merely in word, but in deed, and in the end, a relationship was transformed.
Forgiveness takes courage.
Finally, forgiveness requires time. It is not an instantaneous response, but is a process. Our scripture reading this morning illustrates the process by which Joseph forgave his brothers. Many years had gone by. He had survived in Egypt, discovering special gifts of discernment that propelled him to become a favorite of Pharoah.