Just a few days before his assassination, President Lincoln spoke these words: "As a general rule, I abstain from reading the reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer." It was his final public address shortly after the surrender of General Lee and the practical end of the Civil War.
A seemingly unimportant part of the larger talk on reconstitution, it offers some insight into the mind of the man who, in many ways, saved the United States from perishing. He wasn't looking for an argument or even to prove he was right.
He was looking for the next right thing. He was looking for peace and reconciliation. He knew that right would ultimately win and that a forgiving spirit was the only way to bring the country back together again. Otherwise, the war would never end.
I thought back about the story of David, who for years was running from King Saul. Saul was trying to kill him out of jealousy (an example of what happens when crazy leads). Several times, Saul was at the mercy of David and didn't even know it.
David could have taken him out in an act of vengeance for the things Saul did to him, but he didn't. He wasn't looking for revenge, he was looking to do right. Even to the point of honoring those who honored Saul after his death:
Samuel 2:4-5 When David heard that the men of Jabesh-Gilead had buried Saul, he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial.”
He could have chastised or even killed those who cared for Saul, but he didn’t. This allowed David to have the favor of God and man, ultimately leading to the unification of the kingdom. Two great leaders, both exhibiting the power of forgiveness to bring a divided people together.
Too often we are deceived into thinking that forgiveness is a sign of weakness or "giving in".
To me, it’s one of the most important and strongest character traits available to anyone who chooses to exercise its power.
For any broken relationship to heal, it must start with forgiveness, regardless of who was right and who was wrong. A forgiving spirit may be the single most important attribute of a prosperous life.
In the book the Travelers Gift by Andy Andrews, it is written:
“I realize today that it is impossible to fight an enemy living in my head. By forgiving myself, I erase the doubts, fears, and frustration that have kept my past in the present. From this day forward, my history will cease to control my destiny. I have forgiven myself. My life has just begun. I will forgive even those who do not ask for forgiveness. I will forgive those who criticize me unjustly. I will forgive myself. I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.”
Who do you need to forgive today? What is owning a part of your brain that could otherwise be used for productive thinking? Where do you have such a negative emotional response in your life that you can't move forward?
Greet today with a forgiving spirit and start the process of erasing bitterness and getting better.
