Love and Forgiveness

I am still reading The Power of a Positive Wife. It just takes me a while because I like to read this in quiet (so that is not often). The scripture she has given in the book is so amazing and perfect. In one chapter, she focused on love. I know I used to look for love to fill my heart on this world. No one can do this- no one can fully meet this need. God's love is so strong for us - it is humbling.
There is a part she writes, "Oh, what awesome and overwhelming love our heavenly Father has for us! Relish it. Enjoy it. Fill your heart with it! As we recognize and receive God's love for us, it awakens our love for those around us."

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

The next chapter talks about forgiveness and how important it is to teach your children and be in your family. Sometimes it is so hard to forgive others and especially ourselves, but He pours forgiveness on us.
She included this beautiful verse:

"He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Isreal: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accusenor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:7-14

She says that forgiveness requires God's strength not our own. The first step is just to recognize . Sometimes anger and bitterness creaps into our heart. Se aside a day each week to reflect and do a "forgiveness check".
Second is to realize. Realize everyone falls and we are dependent on God's power to forgive. Third is to release. Picture a heavy bucket filled with all the hurts and disappointments. Instead of throwing it all back on your husband's head over and over, imagine holding over the ocean and letting it go. Finally, resume your relationship. Support and encourage him. Help him to be the person God created him to be. Actions speak volumes with love and forgiveness.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18