This is National Forgiveness Day.

So this is National Forgiveness Day. What does that mean to you?

Forgiveness can mean telling someone who owes us money that they don’t have to pay—we “forgive” the debt. It may involve accepting someone’s apology for hurting us—we say, “I forgive you.” Forgiveness may even mean overlooking an insult or wrong by someone, even when that person doesn’t know what he or she has done or isn’t sorry.

Forgiving someone often is difficult because forgiveness always costs: money, in the case of the debt, revenge (so we can’t “get even”), and pride.

But Jesus tells us to forgive others (Matthew 6:14–15). And what an example Jesus gave us when on the Cross he prayed, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). And whenever we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to forgive us in the same what that we forgive others. Now that’s a scary thought!

So who owes you? Maybe a brother, sister, or friend has borrowed something and hasn’t returned it. Who has wronged you? Perhaps you felt put down by someone in your neighborhood or school or treated unfairly by a teacher or coach, or maybe even a parent. Forgiving those people, with no strings attached, will cost you, but it’s what Jesus wants. And there’s now better time than today and right now.

Forgive and forget.

“And forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.” (Matthew 6:12)

To Do

Let’s turn the situation around. Who have you wronged? From whom do you need to ask forgiveness? Give a call to say you’re sorry. Drop a note. Do it today.

Also on this day . . .

This is Log Cabin Day.

1509—Henry VIII was crowned King of England.

1998—The Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida admitted its 600-millionth guest.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).