Wellness With Rev N
Whether it is from the adventures of summer or the preparations for fall, sometimes when we are working on things, we injure ourselves and start to bleed. Usually, we slap a Band-Aid on it, and the bleeding stops, allowing us to carry on. Other times, a band-aid isn’t going to cut it. We may need stitches to bring both sides of the wound back together to heal properly.
Before a doctor sews it back up, they clean the wound. They do not want anything in the wound that could inhibit healing or cause an infection. Only then does the doctor bring the two sides together and stitch the wound closed to allow for proper healing. For the wound to properly heal, you have to go through a process, following a particular series of steps.
This is also true for spiritual and emotional wounds. I find it helpful to think of forgiveness as the cleansing of the wound. If I want to heal well, the wound needs to be cleaned, and the only way I can clean relational wounds is by forgiving those who have wronged me. Without forgiveness, bringing together the two sides will not bring healing. It will only aggravate the wound, making healing more difficult and time-consuming. Unforgiveness works against healing.
Forgiveness is a gift that sets us on the path of healing. Forgiveness makes it possible for us to travel the road of reconciliation with ourselves, our family and community, our world, and the Creator. Cleaning a wound can be painful, and forgiveness, too, can be painful. But it is necessary if we want to heal well.
