My name is Missie Branch. I am a Christian, a wife, a mom, a daughter, a friend. Like everyone, I have hurt others deeply and have been hurt deeply. I have wrestled with both giving and receiving forgiveness. But why? Probably because I have not fully understood what forgiveness has meant. I haven't considered what it costs, who it costs or even why it is so important.
In our home, we teach our children to apologize to and forgive each other. When someone is crying, the offender says "I'm sorry" and the offended says "I forgive you". That's it. It almost always works and just like that, it's over. But, what has happened in their hearts? What, really, was supposed to happen? That's where it has ended for me for as long as I can remember. Right at the "I forgive you".
I believe that we all understand it on the most basic level, but forgiveness is the one topic that, for me, has been very difficult fully to wrap my heart around. I understand what it means intellectually, but am I really ready to understand what it means for me practically? What is forgiveness going to cost me? This is my journey.
