We were loading the car for our annual summer trip north. Each year we go to upstate New York to visit my side of the family and then onward to Vermont for my wife’s side. As we broke down the packing instructions for the kids, we emphasized “bring just enough for 14 days.”

Since my wife and I first started these trips years ago, we have had to be a bit more creative with our packing to ensure everything and everyone fits comfortably in the car. We’ve since added three kids. Moving from a four-door sedan to a van alleviated the headaches initially. But the kids have grown (and so has the size of the luggage!). As everyone brings their bags to the van for loading, I play Tetris, arranging everything with precision to ensure it all fits while leaving a line of sight for the driver to see out the rear window.

This year, once I got everything into the car, I tried to close the trunk door, but to no avail. After repeated attempts at rearranging the luggage and trying, unsuccessfully, to shut it, I checked if there were any bags we could do without. Then I noticed the size of the snack bag. I’m not pointing any fingers—we each contributed to it. There were several large bags of chips and candy that we agreed we didn’t need, especially considering how many goodies our folks had waiting for us. One of our daughters was more reluctant to give up the extra snacks, clenching them firmly to her chest. Finally, she let it go. This time, the door shut with no problem.

Getting rid of the extra weight was a little hard at first, but well worth the ease of mind in the long run. Forgiving someone is a lot like trying to get luggage to fit. The word forgive means to “let go” or “give up.” Once we let go of the stuff we didn’t need, everything fit in the van fine. Similarly, when someone wrongs us, we carry around extra weight if we hold a grudge. Once we let go of the anger and resentment, we open room in our hearts for God’s grace and peace. Life fits together better when we forgive.

The Apostle Paul admonished the Corinthians to forgive someone who had hurt them:

When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NLT)

Forgiving was better for the Corinthians in the long run. One of the devil’s tactics is to keep us fixated on how someone has wronged us and the pain they have caused. But harboring resentment weighs us down. It’s like excess baggage. Our outlook on life will improve when we let go of the ill feelings. Forgiving bolsters our faith.

We forgive because we have been forgiven: Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). When we let go of the hurt others have caused us, we show them the same kindness God showed us. We have all wronged God, and He offers forgiveness to all. He took the first step in offering reconciliation through Jesus. When we forgive, we are continuing the wonderful message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Lord, thank You for Your marvelous, unmerited forgiveness in Christ. Help me let go of the anger and resentment I carry and practice forgiveness.

~

Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.