Ugh. 77 times? Aren’t we a generation of fool me once, fool me twice mentality? If the ones we are to forgive were as cute as Radar, it would be easy. The others, not so much.
Forgiveness is not a hot topic. You can usually look at a situation that keeps presenting itself and when you crack into it, recognize the weed of unforgiveness that was left behind. The roots have managed to stay planted and we don’t even know it. We just keep mowing over it, thinking we killed it. Lets pluck that sucker out before it spreads!!! Need some weed killer? Let me see if I can find some. I’ll be back!
Okay, so after searching a bit, we’re in luck! I found that the deterrents aren’t really effective, so I would go with the Book on this one, and definitely go with what’s in red.
21Then Peter came up to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. -Matthew 18:21, 22 NIV
I have just been notified of something from a friend, who I rely on for Biblical accuracy, who also seems to know everything. 🙂 The King James Version, along with other versions says seventy times seven. Whoa.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. – Matthew 18:21, 22 KJV
Perhaps, this just goes to show that whether its 77 times or 490 times, we are asked to just do it and not keep track. Great news, that person gets your forgiveness 490 times now… Carry on.
Can't it all be about dogs? 
That pic at the end…LOL! Really?!
And to the message…“weed of unforgiveness”…sigh…yeah, so true…maybe Jesus told us to forgive so many times because it actually *takes* that many times to root out the hurt and resentment? I have at times felt badly that my prayer of forgiveness wasn’t 100% effective, like I was doing something wrong, but this post has made me rethink that! Thank you, Jen!
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