“Bury
the hatchet” is an American English colloquialism
meaning "to make peace." It comes from the practice of burying
weapons of war at the cessation of hostilities among or by Native Americans. Although we do not use hatchets against those
who hurt us today we do use words and actions which can do just as much if not
more damage.
A
few years ago there was a man who I had to work with on a regular basis that
always said or did something to offend me.
His words and attitude made me feel belittled and I would go away from
our encounters fighting back tears. I
would often go home crying out to God, “Why Lord, why do I have to put up with
this guy. He always finds fault with me
and whatever I do.” After being offended
so often one day I finally went home in tears crying and yelling out to God, “I
can’t stand this Father God! You have to
fix this!!” When I finally cried myself
out and sat there quietly God reminded me of a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, “No
one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” I realized that I was perpetuating the
problem with my attitude of un-forgiveness towards this man. I had a grudge
which I allowed to grow bigger and uglier every day I resented the man. When I realized this I immediately asked God
to forgive me for holding the grudge and I asked Him to help me forgive the
man. To this day, when I encounter this
man and he does something that used to offend me I find myself smiling because
it no longer hurts. When I forgave him
those few years ago I literally buried the hatchet with its sharp edge of
bitterness and made peace. Do you need
to bury the hatchet of bitterness and un-forgiveness today? When you do you will find that forgiveness
will:
“Clear
the bitterness away,
It
can even set a prisoner free.
There
is no end to what its power can do
So,
let it go and be amazed
By
what you see through eyes of grace
The
prisoner that it really frees is you.”
(Quote
is from the song “Forgiveness” by Matthew West)
