This is the last Stewards in Action blog. We thank you for being with us on this journey. Check out the Good News Generosity blog coming in early 2022.

Reflect

What are some of the greatest acts of forgiveness you can recall that you have witnessed personally? Forgiveness requires a largeness of heart that is possible only when one has made peace with God in the matter requiring forgiveness. In Genesis 44, we see that Joseph has reconciled the matter of his brother’s treatment of him so that he is able to forgive them and move on to enjoy his reunion with them. Of course they are fearful initially because time hasn’t erased for them the memory of their despicable treatment of him.

It is interesting to note how Joseph, the one who was wronged, was able to get on with his life much better than were his brothers, the wrongdoers. Most likely they had spent years wondering if he was alive and if he would forgive them if they ever found him. Forgiveness—both giving and receiving—is important, not just because it makes us feel better, but because there is a greater agenda out there. For Joseph, it was saving the country from starvation. When we are mired in resentment over something someone did to us—or when we ourselves are mired in guilt—it is difficult to be as productive as we would be otherwise. Mending relations is crucial, for it frees us from the negative emotions that separate us from others and God. Thus we are able to do God’s will, free from the burden of guilt or resentment.

—Carol Penn-Romine

Question

1. What do you think was in Joseph’s mind as he forgave his brothers? Do you think he could have been an effective servant had he been unwilling to forgive them?
2. What do you think would have happened if Joseph had been unable to forgive his brothers?
3. Have you ever sought someone’s forgiveness and not gotten it? Have you ever been unable to forgive someone? If you’ve had either of these experiences, what are your feelings about what happened?

Act

1. Write about a time when you felt you had to forgive someone and you really didn’t want to. Describe your feelings both before and after. Did you feel better after you forgave the person?
2. Make a list of things for which you feel you need forgiveness. Update it as you need to. Pray to God to help you strengthen your relationships with those whose forgiveness you need. As you are able, seek forgiveness from those individuals.
3. Be open to those who may need your forgiveness. As situations arise ask yourself, “What bad could possibly come from forgiving this person for this reason?” Try to forgive others as you would want them to forgive you.

Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash