Ernest Hemingway wrote a story about a Spanish man who put an ad in the paper. The ad read:
My son Paco – meet me in the square. All is forgiven – Papa. (paraphrased)
Eight hundred men named Paco showed up. Two things become apparent from this story: Paco was a common name in that area and the Pacos in the story desired to be forgiven.
While your name might not be Paco, at one time or another in your life you’ve probably desired to be forgiven.
We inherently desire forgiveness.
When I first came to the Healing Ministry I was a broken woman. I thought I was beyond repair. There was a part of me that thought Jesus would never want to be in relationship with someone like me.
When I looked at my past all I saw was the carnage I’d left in my wake. I’d broken my family’s hearts repeatedly. I’d quit on others and myself more times than I could recall. I was the “Queen Manipulator” when it came to my relationships with men. I’d spent the monetary equivalent of my college tuition on alcohol and drugs. I’d lied so much that I couldn’t even remember what was truth and what wasn’t.
In the cacophony that I called my life I came to a decision. I decided that I deserved to be punished. There is a line in the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding that sums up how I felt about myself for many years, “I’m pond scum. Well, lower actually. I’m like the fungus that feeds on pond scum.” Who was I to think that Jesus would want to forgive me and be in relationship with me?
His daughter. His beloved. That is who I am. Nothing was too big or too bad, from my past, for Jesus. One of Jesus’ greatest desires was for me to come to Him for forgiveness. He wanted to forgive me for everything!
Jesus wants to forgive each of us for anything that is standing between us and our relationship with Him. All we have to do is show up to meet Him, ask Him, and He is faithful (and quick) to forgive.
When the Lord writes us into His story His ad reads like this:
My son/daughter _____________________ (fill in your name) come meet with Me. All is forgiven. ~ Abba
I look forward to one day seeing the millions of forgiven who showed up to meet Jesus and received His forgiveness.
I’ll see you there!
Until next time blessings and healing