~The Illuminated Word Project~
a project to take scripture and express it through photography

This is a blog circle of seven other photographers and I. Our monthly goal is to find a scripture during our personal studies that resonates with us at this moment in time, create or capture an image that we feel fits that scripture, and then to share it.

Make sure to follow the links to the next photographer in the circle, until you have visited all of us. I hope you enjoy and find a little extra spiritual light to help you on your own life's journey.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

March - Let it Go

"Then came Peter unto him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
And Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times seven: but until seventy times seven"
St Matthew 18:21-22

To continue on in the circle please visit

I have always thought of this scripture as one person being hurt by another over and over and over again.  But I have also come to realize that it can apply as well to one single hurt.  The kind of hurt that goes deep and is hard to forgive.  The kind of hurt that takes time to heal.  Learning to forgive that kind of hurt is a process.  I am finding it necessary to forgive in steps and that just when I think I have dealt with it, some other aspect of it comes up to bite me.  This may well take me 70x7.  But the biggest lesson I have learned is that even thought it takes time and effort, it is so worth it.  Because every time I let go of another piece, I free that piece of my heart and it opens more room for happiness and light in my life.  Ultimately forgiveness is not for the one who has wronged us, but for us personally.  Forgiveness allows us to let go of things that would weigh us down, and allow the full light of the atonement into our lives, into our hearts, and for us to draw closer to Christ in humility and gratitude.
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5 comments:

  1. StephanieMarch 28, 2012 at 12:46 PM

    This is so true! Forgiveness is so much more beneficial to us than the one who wronged us. I suspect most of the time the other person doesn't even know they hurt us, yet we still carry it around our hearts like a heavy weight .....

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  2. jennMarch 28, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    I think most people don't understand that forgiveness is something you give to yourself, not the other person. Without it, it allows the hurt to continue on. I totally understand where you're coming from. It is definitely a process and every step, small as they may be, makes a huge difference.

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  3. Rachel C.March 31, 2012 at 9:26 AM

    Thank you, Sarah, for these words. I am in need of growth here too.

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  4. JessicaApril 24, 2012 at 1:35 PM

    70x7, wow! And to think about how when Jesus was being killed, the only person who did not deserve it, he was asking his father to forgive them. What an example. Thanks for sharing! And beautiful heavenly image as well.

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  5. GailApril 25, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    Oh wow. yes. yes. YES. So worth it....every painful step. <3 it.

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