Ephesians 4:32

Dear you,
      I loved you once and I thought you were my friend. You made me think we were best friends. You were kind.
    Until one day, you weren’t.
That one day turned into 10 days, which turned into 10 weeks. Then 10 months. Then 10 years.
   
      I hated you. My spirit was broken by how mean you were. I no longer wanted to exist and God knows I tried. I told God I would never forgive you. I wanted so bad to tell you how much I hated you. 
     Until one day, I didn’t.
That one day turned into 2 which turned into a week, into a month and now it’s been a year.  

     You see, you killed a part of me but God resuscitated all of me. He plucked me from my deathbed. My heart was bleeding to death and He patched it up with His Grace. That was day 1.
      Day 2, I woke up with a freedom. Redeemed from the pain of a decade of hate and loathing you.
      Day 7, I recognized my sins. I turned you into an idol. God wanted my heart, no matter how broken it was. He found it. 
      Day 31, I gave my heart to Him.
    Every day since, I plead for His Grace to forgive me, bless me and use me to glorify His name!

      Grace is a hard thing to give and receive. I am a sinner and God knows it but still uses me for His good. You are also a sinner. You, nor I, are expected to be perfect which is why we have a Savior. With this knowledge, I'm able to better understand how to give grace for others because I need it so greatly too. I started with Grace for myself. Now I’m giving it to you.

I forgive you.
  Because He forgives me.

 It's a humbling experience to ask/receive/give Grace even to the most undeserving - because God knows we are all undeserving of His, but He so freely gave it and still does! ✝️💗

With love, 
      Me

“You” could be anyone/anything.  

Your family. Your friends. Your boss or co-workers.
It could even be your habits, your former self, your pessimism, your diseases, your faith or your sins.

This exact letter was written to someone in particular. She hurt me horribly. She continued to hurt me, over and over for many years - both directly and indirectly. I never hated anyone more than I hated her. Silently, I would despise my friends for not hating her with me. Eventually, I began to hate myself for how much I hated her. It was a lot of hate that I couldn't hold onto anymore.

This went on for years. But as soon as I started to learn about God and read His word, I began to understand His Grace and what He meant when Paul said in Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgivng one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

I'm sure she will never read it but it was exactly what I needed to let go and make that proclamation that God is wonderful. I'm not consumed by anyone, but Him! He brought me back to life and I am free in Him!