“I’m sorry, but we have to order another part. A valve,” the repairman said. Our heat pump went out two weeks ago in the midst of a heat wave. We looked forward to the compressor for the heat pump to be replaced soon. Yesterday was the day it would be replaced. But it was not to be. The part–valve–that tells the compressor to cool, failed. The compressor was replaced. But then the repair guy made a discovery. The valve that tells the compressor to heat or cool, failed. If the part was not replaced, it would burn up the new compressor. So now we wait for that part or the new compressor will burn out. Why am I talking about a silly part that was needed to fix our heat pump?

I’m dealing with a hurt. I thought I’d forgiven the hurt, but it cropped up again when I saw some photos of the winners of a contest I’d been disqualified from. I was wounded by the failure of the proper rules to be posted. Brokenhearted.

This morning I read in a little book by Linda Shepherd, Praying Through Every Emotion. In the topic “Bitter,” one of the verses she used caught my eye. If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failures (Matthew 6:14-15 GW).

Most of the time, when I think of forgiving, it deals with big things. But really, it deals with little things too. Failure to yield the right of way when driving. Failure to turn off the burner of the stove–and nearly starting the house on fire (that happened a few weeks ago to me). Big things like a little valve that fails to do its job will burn up a compressor. Failure to post the proper rules.  One dictionary defined failure as: “Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission.” 

Back to the verse, But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failures. Uh oh. The rules weren’t defined. The person failed to post the rules. Forgiving a big deed is hard. Forgiving a smaller deed, sometimes is harder yet. Just like the little part failed to turn the compressor to cool, and if not replaced, will burn the new compressor out, too. In my case, my failures won’t be forgiven. I have to forgive the failure. Right or wrong. My part is to forgive.

Are you struggling with forgiving someone who failed you? Did they forget an important date–like your birthday? Like a lunch date? Were you wounded? Did someone betray you? The verse doesn’t specify big failures or small failures. It says failures.

I’m working on the forgiveness and right now, I know in my head I need to forgive. I’m asking God–the Holy Spirit–to help me forgive–again. He will, because He’s done it before.

Heavenly Father, you say in your word I must forgive. Big or small. I bring this situation before you again and ask you to help me forgive because I know I fail often. I give you the person who failed. Take my hurt and turn in into joy. I give this to you. Thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.