On Monday 6th April there will be a memorial to those who were killed in the Rwanda genocide in 1994, today I heard an interview on the radio with one man who had lost all his family and was now working with one of their killers. He was asked if he had forgiven and his response was stark, he replied that if he had not forgiven he would have killed himself.

Forgiveness is a matter of life and death, we may not all have such extreme acts to forgive, but whatever the issue if we harbour resentment and let it burn in us ,we do die a little, that which is free and joyful becomes twisted and angry. More importantly we put up a barrier to God and turn away from that relationship.
The man who forgave did a courageous thing, and so saved himself, he who was forgiven has been given the love and mercy of Jesus Christ himself.

"You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you."
Colossians 3 vs 13