THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT OF UNFORGIVENESS...

This story is long but interesting, you will learn if
you find time to read it.

Happy Reading:
On July 2, 1881, the 20th president of the United
States, President James Garfield, was in a railroad
station getting ready to board a train for the New
Jersey shore, when he was suddenly shot twice by
a madman, Charles Guiteau.

President Garfield was shot twice at close range…
one shot glanced off of his arm while the second
bullet found its way into his abdomen.
He was taken immediately to Washington DC to be
cared for and treated.

Over the course of the next 80 days, sixteen
doctors tried their skill and techniques to try to
save the life of the president.
The stuck a metal probe into him to search for the
bullet as well as their dirty fingers and filthy
instruments.

Because of the heat and humidity it was decided
that he would be moved to a cottage at the Jersey
shore.
Shortly thereafter, President Garfield’s temperature
began to rise, so the decision was made to reopen
him up and try to dislodge the bullet and again,
they failed.

What started out as a shallow, 3 inch wound
became a huge 20 inch long, pus infected wound
that leaked infection and fluids…from his ribs to his
groin.

His robust weight of 210 pounds dropped to an
anemic 130 pounds. Then, on September 19, 1881,
President Garfield yelled out, “This pain, this pain!”
He was suffering from a massive heart attack and
died a little while later.
———————-

You may be asking yourself what this story has to
do with forgiveness and unforgiveness.
Well, this story illustrates the harmful power
unforgiveness. Sometimes when a person is
wronged, whether it be verbal, physical, or
mentally, it can be a very difficult thing to forgive
the transgressor.

In a group setting, the effects of unforgiveness can
have an even greater effect on a person
…and here is why.

When a person (or a group of people) cannot
forgive an individual… what sometimes happens is
that the wronged person might begin to get teased,
ridiculed, laughed at, or sometimes, sadly, even
harmed by the stubborn person (or people) or
cannot forgive.

The result? What could have ended a problem, a
situation, or a wrong-doing in a quick, simple
fashion, festered into something ugly and
sometimes, repulsive.

Just like the doctors who “treated” President
Garfield with dirty hands and implements
….harmful words and actions can “infect” and
“contaminate” a person’s soul, which can destroy
an individual’s life.

It is important to remem
ber this…it wasn’t the
bullet that lead to President Garfield’s death
…it was the constant prodding, poking, and bad
practices that caused him to die.
Such it is when people cannot forgive..it can lead
to the destruction of others.

So, remember, the next time you have the ability
and opportunity to forgive someone who has
confessed to you a wrong, even though it might be
a hard thing to do, have the courage and
conviction to do what is right …and help heal a
wounded soul today!

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your
Father will not forgive your sins.” _ Matthew 6:
14-15
GOD STILL HEALS AND RESTORES!!

NOTE:
To err is human, to forgive is divine.

Pray for the spirit of forgiveness!