Mom’s Corner: When Bitterness Loses Its Power

Many times when I reminisce about my elementary school years, I remember a dear classmate of mine. She was a very pretty girl always at the center of attention. She grew up into an amazing young lady, married her high school teacher and was blessed by two beautiful daughters. When her daughters reached their teenage years, their dad decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life with another woman. The divorce was not pretty. My friend managed.

Shortly afterwards the man started a new family and had a little boy. My friend’s daughters proclaimed, “Mom, we want to know our step-brother! We want him to be a part of our family!” What could she do? What would you do for your children? She reached out to her former spouse and began to babysit his son. She would take him for weekends. She would raise money for his soccer team. She would include him in her family life. The peak of her sacrifice, from my perspective, was when Christmas came and they decided to celebrate this occasion as an extended family: my friend, her daughters, their dad, his wife, and their boy. When the little child started first grade, he announced to his class that he had two moms. The teacher tried to correct him, but he insisted on his truth. He loved both of his moms and they were both his.

When I last saw my friend a few years ago, I couldn’t help but ask her why she was doing all this. It couldn’t have been easy for her. She replied, “You see, my grandmother died of cancer when she was 51. My mother died of cancer when she was 54. I am almost 50. How do I know how long I have to live? I don’t have time to occupy myself with all the hatred and bitterness that many people do. I have to give my best while I still have a chance. And I can always find more love in my heart for another human being even though he may be my former husband’s son.” She didn’t even know God.

I felt humbled by her story. I looked back into my life to see all the little things that have been difficult for me to let go of. I wondered, “Do I know how long I still have to live? Am I doing my best in life while I still have a chance?”

I want to encourage you today. Maybe you don’t have to deal with a broken family. Maybe you don’t have to deal with someone else’s child. But all of us find ourselves in situations that require more of us than we think we can give. However, there is strength available to us that we may not have known existed. It is all hidden in Jesus Christ. If you haven’t surrendered your life to Him yet, I strongly encourage you to do so today. If you have known Him, but have struggled with submitting to His gentle leading, give yourself to Him anew. He is more than able to give you a fresh perspective on life as well as strength to make decisions that lead to a fulfilled life.

Do you have any amazing stories of forgiveness? Please share them with us in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!