Thankful: Day 27

I just checked my timehop about 1 minute ago and immediately knew what I needed to say tonight.

The thoughts are still swarming around in my head making it hard to get them all collected enough to communicate.

Exactly three years ago today I posted what I thought was an innocent status update to Facebook. That status cost me a friendship and resulted in many, many, MANY tears. It's a long story that doesn't need to be rehashed, especially since it happened three years ago, but it still haunts me to this day. I wish I would have done things so differently.

That friend never has, and probably never will forgive me. I have apologized over and over again. Even though I didn't mention the friend's name, business or any other identifying information, and even though I was just venting about the cost of an item I paid for through a third party...I still hurt her feelings and for that I was, and still am, extremely sorry.

It's funny, because I am so hard on myself. I find it hard to forgive myself for even the most minor of mistakes...but when it comes to forgiving others, I find it often (although not always) easy. I know people aren't perfect. I know people typically don't set out to hurt, offend, insult, etc...me on purpose. I understand that, which is why I forgive. Besides, unforgiveness only hurts me and why would I want to hurt more?

But God.

God forgives.

When I hurt my friend that day, it wasn't intentional. In fact, had the thought that I MIGHT hurt my friend crossed my mind, that status never would have been written. But sometimes, I hurt God intentionally. I know the good I ought to do and don't do it. I know the bad I ought not do and still do it. So many times I have done this. So many times I have fallen to my knees in repentance.

And He always forgives.

I am thankful for that forgiveness today. So very, very thankful.