Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

Psalm‬ ‭32‬:‭10

Doesn’t it feel good to be forgiven? I’m not trying to be all Christian-y, either. Just regular old forgiveness when you screw something up, you know it, maybe you did it on purpose, and you get some unwarranted and/or underserved forgiveness.

It’s cool water on a summer day.

Actually, it’s like a sweet caramelized sip of Dr Pepper with a cheeseburger. Or the first warming ounces of coffee on a crisp fall morning.

It’s so good. And we just receive it. We can’t manufacture it. Someone had to choose to give it to us. Based maybe on our actions and attitudes, but those also got us into trouble in the first place.

We are some pretty temperamental beings.

But when we are forgiven, what do we do with it?

Do we have the courage to move forward, changed for the better?

Do we have the foresight to thank God for this gift—to thank Him we didn’t screw things up more?

Do we grin and move on?

Do we care?

Do we notice?

Do we forgive?

God, let the forgiveness I receive change the actions I’m about to take.