When you take the time to pause and reflect on what Jesus did for us on the cross, you can’t help but think about forgiveness, right?

 

I remember Easter of 2020 very clearly. I can hardly believe it’s been five years.

 

We were all confined to our homes because people around the world were in lockdown due to Covid-19. I remember watching the church service on our laptop and how we took communion with a piece of bread on the patio of our apartment. I actually can’t remember whether we drank grape juice or water, but I’m pretty sure we were out of wine by then.

 

One thing that really stuck with me from that Easter weekend is how I had the chance to reflect and truly think deeply about things that had been bothering me. I was still angry about something that had happened to me months before. It took me a long time to process the events, but that Easter weekend, I finally reached a point where I felt I could forgive.

 

How did I get there?

 

It wasn’t easy; it was definitely a process. I thought about it a lot and prayed regularly. I also had to accept the apology I had received, even though, honestly, it didn’t feel sufficient. I came to the realisation that my constant rumination and underlying anger were holding me back even more than the actual lockdown at the time.

 

That Easter weekend, stuck in our two-bedroom apartment, I rediscovered the meaning of forgiveness because, for the first time in a long while, I had the time to truly reflect on it. Along with that, I also found a renewed appreciation for freedom, friendships and simply for life itself. It was freeing to be able to forgive 100% and move forward.

 

Easter weekend is almost here again. Reflect on the things that hurt you or make you angry. Think again about forgiveness. Yes, it doesn’t happen overnight, but talk to God, so the process can begin, even if it’s slow but steady.

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for forgiving our sins. Help me to forgive those I am angry with, just as you forgive us again and again. Amen.