If you want your love life to move forward, then forgiveness is a condition that permits that. You can’t progress if you’re not ready to forgive and let go of your past.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers at 17. He spent 13 years as a slave, but he dealt incredibly well what happened to him. Forgiveness was his strongest virtue.
“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” (Genesis 50:15)
When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt asking for food, and realised that he was the governor of Egypt, they were afraid. They thought that he would treat them how they treated the son of the king who had abused their sister Dinah – they killed him and everyone in the city. So, they expected Joseph to order that they be put to death.
You will always judge people, according to who you are. If you are a liar, you will find it hard to trust people because you will assume they are also lying. If you steal, you will also find it hard to trust others. Those who don’t forgive, don’t believe in forgiveness. That’s why Joseph’s brothers expected to die, but Joseph surprised them by forgiving them.
You are sabotaging your own self and this could be the cause of your unhappiness. If your partner made a mistake and you say you have forgiven, but keep a tab of their wrongdoings and constantly remind them of it, then you haven’t truly forgiven. And if you are single and struggle to forgive, you will also struggle to find someone who will want to be with you.
Forgiveness is the best revenge. In 13 years, Joseph became the governor of Egypt and his brothers were subject to famine. Their lives were stuck, whereas Joseph progressed. This is what happens when you don’t forgive – the problem stays with you, not the other person, because it’s your life; the other party has no control over it.
Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). So, if your heart has an abundance of hatred, everything you do and say is contaminated by that poison.
There are three types of forgiveness:
- The forgiveness that we have to give to others.
- The forgiveness we have to receive from others.
- Forgiveness towards ourselves – there are many people who don’t accept that they have been forgiven.
If you seek help for all of these situations, the Author of Love will help you. Who do you want to be, like Joseph or his brothers? If your answer is Joseph, then understand that it’s a hard path, but it’s the best one.
As we have come to the end of the Genesis of Couples series, you have surely learnt a great deal from each couple’s example. Continue to attend the Love Therapy on Thursdays at 8pm for more intelligent love-based tips.
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