One day, a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job. His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illnesses he had, that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree, to see the One he know would always be there.
With tears in his eyes, he cried aloud:
"Lord, You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for You, and I gladly obeyed. Today, You have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I can not. I don't know how. It is not fair Lord, I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done unto me and I should not have to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear You, but I pray that You teach me to do this one thing I can not do- Teach me to Forgive."
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was, because where the oak tree had been, was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head ans saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them. He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes, as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally, he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As thier eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak:
"Have you ever told a lie?, He asked"
the man answered - Yes Lord
"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?"
the man answered -Yes Lord ( and the man sobbed more and more)
"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?"
the man answered - Yes Lord
"Have you ever sworn, using My Father's name in vain?"
the man now crying answered - Yes Lord
As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever..."?, the man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer, Yes Lord. Then Jesus turned His head from one side, and then to the other side, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love in His eyes that he had never seen or known before.
Then Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."
