In the midst of our conversation during the birthday celebration of my sister, Gretel “Tellie” de los Reyes-Boiser, in a plush hotel, she mentioned a mother who never talked to her daughter for a year. The mother could not forgive her daughter for marrying a man against her choice. My sister commented, “What kind of a mother is she who couldn’t forgive her daughter?”
It brings to my mind the story of a male patient who was admitted in the hospital late in the evening. As the nurse pressed the stethoscope over his chest and listened, she found out that his breathing was strong, but slow and uneven in its beating. There seemed a little indication that the man had suffered a slight heart attack.
When, the nurse was about to call the doctor, the man requested that she call his daughter, Janie. He asked for a pen and a small piece of paper. When the doctor arrived, the attending nurse left the room to make the call.
Over the phone, the nurse told the patient’s daughter that her father had just been admitted in the hospital. Janie asked if her father was alright, and even told the nurse, “You must not let him die! My Daddy and I haven’t spoken in almost a year.” The daughter related, “We had a terrible argument on my 21st birthday over my boyfriend. I ran out of the house and haven’t been back. All these months, I’ve wanted to go to him for forgiveness. The last thing I said to him was, ‘I hate you!’ ”
When Janie arrived at the hospital, the doctor told her that her father was gone. “I did all I could to revive him from cardiac arrest, but to no avail,” the doctor said.
As Janie cried in aguish and pain, the nurse handed her a note. It said: “My dear Janie, I forgive you. I pray you will also forgive me. I know that you love me. I love you too! – Daddy”
The story reminds us that life is short and we are living on borrowed time. As the song “A Love to Last” goes: “We are just merely passing through, doing what we do in a lifetime/ We have more than one adventure to take, more than one dream to make in our lifetime…”
While we still have the time to forgive those who have hurt us in one way or another, let us mend the bridges before it’s too late. Why do we have to wait for another opportunity when we can do it now? Let not our ego stand in the way of forgiveness and reconciliation.
To forgive and reconcile with those who have caused us pain is not only Christian but is also good for our soul. Matthew5:23 – 25 exhorts: “Therefore, if your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Author Max Lucado writes: “Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner.”