Our daughter is just over a month shy of being a year old. Early on, one of her favourite toys was a squeaky pink hippo. It has a short, fabric stuffed body sans arms or legs which is perfect for baby hands to grip. Since then, she has acquired a squeaky giraffe, bunny and puppy. She just loves these toys!
More than once she has demonstrated this love by refusing to let go of one squeaky or the other in situations where it would likely be prudent to do so. Shirts do not come off easily overtop hands clutching squeakers.
She will crawl with one or two, prompting an adorable squeak to accompany her every move about the floor.
Climbing, drinking her bottle, cruising around the coffee table, you name it and she can likely accomplish the task without dropping her squeaky buddy of choice.
In this instance, it is endearing. Her enjoyment shows part of her budding personality. I love getting to know her.
But how often do we possess this astounding ability to hold onto something regardless of how much time passes in a not so endearing way? Yes, I am referring to bitterness and grudges. Those feelings of being wronged or indignant self-righteousness that permeate our minds and hearts, filling us with poison that in the end does more damage to our self than anyone else. Do not mistake, an inability to forgive will hurt others as well, but you are the one who will lay awake with seething bitterness. You are the one who will alienate your world from love and friendship. You will be the ultimate sufferer.
Believe me when I say that I can hold onto resentful feelings with a vice grip. Sometimes, I think on an incident and the hurt floods back with shocking realism. I might as well be re-living it. This, if left unchecked, can water the seeds of bitterness and unearth a whole bunch of trouble. My restless mind and heart stir with pain, anger and thoughts of “I should have said this or that…that would have put them in their place!”
Let go! No matter how large the transgression, it is not a cute animal squeaky and you look ridiculous carrying it everywhere you go. If Jesus can die an excruciating death in place of me because of the sins of every man that has and will tread this world, then why can I not forgive that fifth grade bully or that misinformed teacher who disciplined me for no wrongdoing of my own? The highest Authority abolished their wrongdoings with shed blood, so who am I to hold onto it as if I have the right?
Let go!
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