Forgive, Forgive, Forgive !

"Refuse to let your past keep you from the future God has planned for you. Today, forgive those that have hurt you and forgive yourself so that you can walk in victory." ~ Joel Osteen

This is Absolutely the Best Advice that I could Ever Share with Anyone ! However, I Can't Promise that Forgiveness Will Always Be Easy. For some, Forgiving Others is Second Nature, but for Others it can be a lot of Hard Work. When I say for others, I mean Me, Myself, and I.

As many of you already know, I was sexually abused by my father from the time I was an infant until I was at least 14 years old. Now I'd like for you to please take just a moment to reflect upon How Long 14 years can be esp. when it's Someone's One and Only Childhood. Now I'm not saying my childhood was all bad. In fact, I always had food to eat, nice clothes to wear, new shoes, and school supplies. I was able to take ballet, tap, & piano lessons, and I have no idea what my Mom may have sacrificed to ensure that we always had plenty of Birthday and Christmas Presents. She kept our home neat & clean, & I was taken to church every Sunday. In fact, Everything Appeared "Normal" to the outside world, but There Wasn't Anything "Normal" about What Happened Behind Closed Doors. I Lived in Constant Fear of What My Father Might Do Next Instead of Feeling Safe in My Own Home.

After Living with such an Abusive Man for so many years, I eventually grew to hate him. Yes, I admit that I actually used to hate my earthly father for what he did to me and my family. I also hated my mother for not leaving my father sooner, because he had such easy access to us. My mom, my brother, and I were each hurt in many different ways, and all I did was became Full of Anger. I later used My Childhood Experiences as an Excuse to Let My Anger become Rage. I also used My Bitterness and Resentment as an Excuse to Build Many Walls Around My Heart.

These Days, I am able to Encourage Others who have been Abused, to Forgive the One(s) who Hurt Them. I know that some of you will be thinking to yourselves, "Well, I Don't Have to Forgive Anyone!" Well, I used to say the same thing all through out my 20's and 30's, and Guess What Saying That Accomplished ? Absolutely Nothing ! All I did was give Satan an Open Door to Fill My Heart with Hate instead of Opening the Door for Jesus to Fill My Heart with HIS Love. Like I said earlier, I went to church every Sunday, so it's not like I didn't know about Jesus. I just Didn't Act Like I Knew HIM for many many years.

Since "Hindsight is 20/20," I Can Now Look Back & Reflect Upon How Much Time & Energy I Wasted, because I Refused to Forgive My Parents. Those were Precious Years that are Gone Forever, and I am left with many regrets. One of which is that I Used to Hold On So Tightly to All of the Toxic Feelings Bottled Up Inside of Me, because I Did Not Understand that Forgiveness Would Bring Me the Freedom I was Looking for Everywhere Else in Life. I had to Learn the Hard Way that Forgiving My Parents didn't Mean that I had to Pretend Like Nothing Ever Happened to Me. It simply meant that I didn't have to Live with all of that Anger, Bitterness, & Resentment Any Longer. "Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's Unfailing Love Surrounds the Man Who Trusts in HIM." (Psalm 32:10 NIV.) I Pray that by Sharing My Story, it May Help Someone Out There Find Forgiveness and Freedom A Lot Sooner than I Did !

The GOOD NEWS is that I Have Been On the Right Track, since I Finally Forgave My Parents nearly 2 1/2 years ago. Believe Me, the Blame Game is a Total and Complete Waste of Time. With Jesus' Help, I am Making Better Choices Concerning All Aspects of My Life, and I Give God All the Glory ! I Honestly Could Not Have Accomplished Anything without a Personal Relationship with JESUS. HE is the Only One Who Could Heal My Broken Heart, and He Can Heal Your Hurting Heart. HE Gives Me the Strength I Need to Overcome, and He'll Do the Same for you, too. "I Can Do Everything Through HIM Who Gives Me Strength !" (Philippians 4:13 NIV.)

I'm also Learning to Forgive Myself, so I can Discover My God Given Destiny. Some people know what they will be when they grow up, but I'm still trying to figure out a few things. In the meantime, I Continue to Fight those thoughts of failure or defeat whenever they try to creep into my mind. I'm a Child of the Most High God, and I Choose to Act Like One ! Once Again, I can't Promise that it will Be Easy to Forgive the One(s) that Hurt You, but I Can Promise that It Is So Worth It ! I just can't Encourage You Enough to Forgive Anyone and Everyone Who has Ever Hurt You, so that You Can Get on with Your Life, too !

As Joyce Meyer Always says, "I May Not Be Where I Want to Be, but THANK GOD I Am Not Where I Used to Be, Amen !"

Until We Meet Again,
God Bless! -Kristin Reins