Forgive

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

"I tell you not as many as seven," Jesus said to him, "but 70 times seven." Matthew 18:21,22

I have just spent 9 days in a tent with my sister as we participated in the Great Victorian Bike Ride. We lived in close proximity to each other and at times tested each other, we had to forgive each other and make room for each other's differences.

My sister is very individualistic and not prone to lay down her life easily for me who she considers should make my own way. I went along hoping to spend time riding together but my sister liked to take off and do her own thing.

On day one I had a puncture and a stranger came to my aid, my sister had the pump. Day two I had a fall, another stranger helped me, not my sister. I was being challenged with my attitude.

Day three my shoes went missing and my sister was keen to have me sit the day out so she could take off, mind you I had injured knees and it was good for me to take a day off.

Day four was a hot, oppressive day and a group of us started out together but again another person was there for me, not my sister. My knees were still very sore and the heat and pain caused me grief. When I made it to camp I was dehydrated but this time my sister took me to the clinic and had me seen to.

Day 5 we had off and my sister and I spent time together walking around Echuca, I struggled with my knees and went to bed early after having another puncture repaired, my sister took off partying.

Day 6 I did a half ride with two punctures and helped by a stranger, again my sister was keen to dispatch me to the bus so she could enjoy the ride in her own way.

Day 7 I did the full ride and straggled along accepting I had to make it on my own.

Day 8 I began to improve, my legs were on the mend, I kept up, more or less for 80kms.

Day 9, I amazed everyone, including my sister as I finished the ride. It was a hell of a day. We awoke to strong gusts of wind and high mountain climbs. As I straggled into the finish, my sister way ahead, I kept saying 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' I did the last and hardest bit alone, no stranger to help, no one believing I would make it (no one on earth that is).

In life we will rarely get what we expect and we will constantly be challenged by the attitudes and beliefs of others.

The moral of the tale, forgive, forgive and forgive some more and grow deeper, wider, higher in grace.