Entry 32- To Err is Human, to Forgive Is?

For years, I held onto grudges like they were my birthright—proudly replaying the offense in my head, perfecting my imaginary comebacks. I told myself I wasn’t bitter; I was just holding people accountable. But truthfully? I was just marinating in resentment, and it was exhausting.

grudges feel Like protection, but they’re a Prison

I thought holding onto anger was a form of self-defence. If I let go, wouldn’t that mean they “won”? Wouldn’t that make me weak? But then I read Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Yikes.

So here I was, refusing to forgive my cousin for stealing my doll in 19xx (shall we not expose our ages here please), meanwhile, God was looking at me like, "Sis, you still expect me to forgive you daily?"

And let’s talk about relationships—because if I had a Cedi for every time I held a grudge against an ex, I could fund a small vacation. I thought staying mad kept me in control. In reality, it just kept me stuck. Meanwhile, he was out there living his best life, oblivious, while I was still drafting imaginary text responses in my head (Foolish! I thank God for His Grace everyday).

I used to think forgiveness meant pretending it didn’t happen. Nope. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to send them a Christmas card or invite them to brunch. It means you stop carrying their mistake around like emotional baggage.

Take Peter, for example. He denied Jesus three times- one, two, three times! If Jesus had held grudges like I did, Peter would’ve been excommunicated from the disciples' WhatsApp group. But instead, Jesus restored him (John 21:15-17). That’s real grace.

The same applied to my past relationships. I had to forgive—not for them, but for me. Because dragging resentment into new situations is like bringing expired milk to a fresh cup of coffee. It just ruins everything.

Letting go, finding freedom

When I finally let go, I realised how much lighter I felt. No more plotting petty revenge scenarios in the shower. No more mental replays of that one time someone shaded me in a group chat. Just freedom. And the best part? God’s love filled the spaces that anger used to occupy.

Lord, help me to let go of grudges that keep me bound. Teach me to forgive as You have forgiven me. Fill my heart with grace, and replace bitterness with love. And if someone still owes me money, remind me that You are my provider. In Jesus’ name, Amen.