The Right Thing Even When It's Hard

What do you do when you face the person who is behind the reason for your family's suffering? You forgive and reconcile. Twice in one day this past week, out of the blue, I ran into my mom's former boss. I was completely taken off guard and I realized I wish I had prepared my heart more for the right reaction. I knew some day I was going to run into him, and I knew that I would have to know what my reaction would be. A Christ-like reaction, a reaction based on scripture, and a reaction that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit's work in that person's life. We never actually talked but this really got me thinking. How did Jesus do this? To look Judas in the eye and forgive him before he even did anything wrong? Wow! That's a place of maturity in Christ that I want to be in. I want to know without a doubt that I can forgive in an instant and that I never have to question later if I truly forgave or not. And to be quite honest, because of God's goodness and His love this situation doesn't really feel all that bad. I truly feel like we got the better end of the situation because we never have to battle against the temptation of guilt and shame. Our battle is a battle solely on forgiveness and because of God we can forgive. And I love what my mom told me - she has been so heroic and Christ-like in all of this. But she told me that by me seeing "him" that means that we need to be praying for him more because the hound of heaven is chasing after him. And you know what, I want to be at that place in my heart where I'm so settled in my forgiveness that I can look at him and smile. Lord, give me the courage like Esther to do the right thing even when it's hard....