Thursday, August 14, 2025
Forgiving From the Heart
Dear Diary,
This morning at St. Mary’s, Father LeRoy read from the Gospel where Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone—“As many as seven times?” Peter wondered. But Jesus said, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Father said that Jesus didn’t mean we should keep a tally in our heads, but that forgiveness should be as endless as God’s mercy toward us. He told the story from the reading about the king who forgave his servant’s great debt, but that servant turned around and refused to forgive another man’s small debt. Father said that when we are forgiven, we must also forgive, truly from the heart, not just in words.
I thought about that as I sat beside Sister Mary Claire, with Mini curled right at our feet, her little head resting on my shoe. I thought about people I’ve been cross with and how sometimes I hold on to it longer than I should. Maybe forgiving means letting go so much that the hurt doesn’t sit in your heart anymore.
The church was so still except for the creak of the pews and the sound of Father’s voice. Sister looked over at me and smiled in that way that says she knows I’m thinking deeply. When we walked home, the wind carried the smell of fresh-cut hay, and Mini trotted happily between us.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for showing me how much I have been forgiven.
Help me forgive others quickly and from my heart, so there’s no room left for bitterness to grow.
Make my heart gentle like Yours, and my words kind like Your own.
Bless Sister Mary Claire, Father LeRoy, and little Mini asleep at my side.
Amen.
Love,
Kathy
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