Let It Go

We talk a lot during Lent about repenting and seeking forgiveness for our sins.  This is for good reason: we do sin, we do need God's help in getting things back on track.  But forgiveness is not only something we should want to receive, it's something we should be prepared to extend.

I'm not one for armchair psychology, but I do know the emotional costs imposed by carrying around a grudge, no matter how seemingly justified.  The anger, the resentment, and yes, the solipsistic sense of importance we feel are consuming and, in the worst cases, all consuming.  And in the end, what do we get for all of this?  Not much, really.  Maybe a sense of short-lived satisfaction, but never true contentment.

A few years ago parents of small children and those around them were bombarded with the hit song "Let It Go" from the movie Frozen.  Disney movies can be annoying, but they often have a lesson worth learning.  "Let It Go" is a good song, or at least a good song title, for Lent.  We should let the resentment, the anger, the self-importance go.  We should forgive.  And then we will be in a better position to be forgiven ourselves.

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