What’s the best life lesson, my English teacher taught me?

Give “Advance” Forgiveness.

My high school English teacher, Mr. Perone, was an outspoken Christian.

He daily made it a point to share something in regards to the spiritual world.

During a rant about love and how to treat each other, he told us one day,

“My wife and I have determined to daily give one another advanced forgiveness. We know eventually, as two imperfect people, we will let one another down.”

He shared further that this postures his heart in a way that makes him ready to show his wife grace.

He's ready when she made mistakes.

It proved to enrich their marriage.

Too often people hold a tight grip on grudges, or they make a grueling effort to hold wrongs against others.

Instead of spending time and energy on focusing on other’s faults, let’s follow Mr. Perone’s lead. Let's determine to store up "advance forgiveness" for the imperfect people in our lives.

Verses For You To Digest:

“bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

Colossians 3:13

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 6:14-15

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

Your next steps:

Determine in your heart to prepare a healthy serving of “advance forgiveness” so you are ready to dish it out.

People are going to let you down this week.

You’re going to have the opportunity to choose your response. When you get frustrated or disappointed, will you extend grace and experience joy?

Or will you decide to look only at yourself, and forget the need for forgiveness you have as well?

Forgiveness is such a foreign fruit in our world.

But it is what sets us apart any person who has experienced God’s forgiveness.

Forgiveness was freely give to us, in advance, before we even made mistakes.

Let's freely give it to others, even in advance!

All love,

Lowery