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Forgiveness by J.Q. Rose
Tis the season of hope, love, peace and joy, but not for everyone. People have relationships that have gone wrong. They're hurting and can't enjoy the festivities no matter how much they pretend they are. If ever there was a time to forgive, the Christmas season is it! People are more open to sharing feelings. If you are ready to forgive someone or ready to accept forgiveness, do it now.
I was inspired to write Dangerous Sanctuary when a friend told me she couldn’t
forgive her ex-husband. They had gone through a mean, stressful divorce after
he left her for another woman. She was a Christian woman trying to live a
Christian life, but she just couldn’t seem to get over his betrayal. Deep inside
she had to admit she could not forgive his actions.
Intellectually we know by not forgiving others, we’re really
hurting ourselves. We carry a grudge within our hardened hearts. Instead of the
horrible burden going away, we seem to feed it and make it grow into hatred
that seethes throughout our pores and colors our world black with resentment.
Withholding forgiveness to someone who hurts us only gives
us a false sense of power and control over that person. No one likes to have a
hammer held over her head with comments like, “Remember when you did so and
so?” Bitterness grows and further damages the relationship.
Being the first to try and
reach out and forgive someone takes strength and courage. On the other hand it takes an equally loving person to accept the offer of forgiveness. When the attempt is made, the heart soars and shoulders no longer sag under the burden of hatred and anguish.
Forgiveness isn’t easy. It may take a long time to get a
different perspective on the hurt, but in the end we can try and do
the best we can to resolve a relationship and relieve heartache for both
parties.
My main character, Pastor Christine Hobbs, teaches about
God’s forgiveness in all things. Even if we don’t feel we are worthy of
forgiveness, God’s love and grace is available. All we need to do is ask.
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| Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose Even a minister has trouble with offering forgiveness. |
Pastor Christine tries to practice forgiveness in her own life, but just when
she thinks she has come to terms with her husband’s cheating, lying, and
eventual abandonment, she discovers she has not. No one said it is easy to forgive.
In order to move on with our lives and gain peace within, Forgiveness is the
key.
EXCERPT: from Dangerous Sanctuary when Christine receives a phone call from her ex which starts her
stomach churning and her blood boiling.
“So how are you
getting along there with your new church position?” His voice moderated. “You
may not believe it, but I do think of you and wonder how you are.”
Her eyes teared
up. He had no idea how much she missed him and hated him at the same time.
“I’m fine.
How’re you?”
“Well, as soon
as I get this apartment cleaned up, I’ll be happy. What a job. I never knew
moving would be so difficult.”
“You’re moving?
Where are you going?” She bit her lip. She hated to sound as if she were the
least bit interested in his life.
“Nadia and I
found a house.” He delivered it like a hot poker through her heart.
He met Nadia
while he was away on a lengthy sales trip. She shook her head to erase the dark
thoughts in her mind.
“We decided it
was such a good deal, we couldn’t pass it up. I’ll send you my new address.
It’s a ranch in a subdivision near that greasy spoon cafe we liked to go to. Do
you remember that place? Jake’s.” His remarks were so off-handed.
“Oh, yeah.”
Christine remembered Jake’s like it was yesterday.
Jake’s was the
place where she told Brad she was pregnant with their baby. She remembered the
joy in his face and excitement they felt about beginning their family.
She squeezed
her eyes closed, trying to blot out the memory of the night she lost her baby
girl in the emergency room. She was all by herself because Brad was away on a
business trip. He never understood her feeling of loss, so he tried to act like
it never happened. The baby wasn’t real to him as she was to her.
She realized
she wasn’t listening to a word he’d spoken, so when Brad stopped talking she
said, “Okay. Thanks. Gotta go. Just mail them to the church. Good-bye.” The
lump in her throat prevented her from continuing the phone conversation.
Still clutching
the phone in her hand, the memories of that Saturday morning conversation over
two years ago surfaced in her mind. She and Brad were sitting at the kitchen
table. Christine looked forward to spending time with her husband. Having a
weekend together was unusual.
“So what are
your plans for this weekend? Do you want to take a drive or go to a movie?” she
asked as she picked up the cereal box.
Setting his
coffee mug on the kitchen table, he looked directly into her eyes.
“I won’t be
here this weekend.”
She stopped
pouring the sugary flakes of cereal into the bowl. “Oh, really?” She turned to
face her beloved husband. “I thought we could do something fun this weekend. We
have so little time together anymore.”
“I’m moving out
today.” He sat motionless in the chair.
“What? What did
you say?” She leaned in closer toward Brad, the cereal box clenched in her
hand.
“I’m leaving.
I’m moving in with a friend. I want out of this marriage.” He grabbed the cup
of coffee and pulled it toward him.
She clutched
her stomach to stop the churning inside. Was she dreaming? This couldn’t be
real. She tried to read his face, but he kept his eyes on his coffee mug.
She slammed the
box of cereal down on the table and curled her hands into tight fists. With
each sentence she spoke, her fists hit the table. “Wait a minute. Bradley, wait
a minute. What’s happening? What are you saying?”
He glanced up
furtively. Finally locking onto her eyes, he said, “I’m in love with another
woman. It’s over for us.”
Dangerous Sanctuary is available at amazon in ebook or paperback editions.
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