With the best intentions in the world, I had written a letter that was designed to destroy. I would not have written that letter to someone who was not a Christian. I would have found kinder ways to say what needed to be said, a way to show forgiveness through my words even as I tried to reach an understanding. I honestly can't remember all the instances, but a few came to mind when I was unjust. My prayer for myself and for other Christians is that we would learn to love our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as we love our neighbors and ourselves.
Forgiveness is essential in loving relationships.
Read part 1 of Michael Smalley's series, The Importance of Forgiveness in Love. Elizabeth Maddrey is a digital products analyst at META Group in Virginia. She met her husband, Tim, while they were both completing computer science degrees at Wheaton College in Illinois. After graduation, they had many interesting experiences while Tim served four years in the Army. Their family, at this point, consists of two spastic Shetland sheepdogs.