Forgiveness Frees the Forgiver

His adrenalin rapidly flowing and his heart beating in his ears, he knows what he must do. His lips go dry and he curls his hand into a fist of steel. His muscles quiver in anticipation of being released with full power. Will beating up his father resolve Tom’s deep hatred? Is leading a lifestyle similar to that of the hated person a way to make the hated one change? Can Tom change his father’s behavior? Can we learn new behavior from observing others, if we are willing to change? Does God place others in our path to guide us? How can Tom forgive others who do him wrong, but not his father? Why doesn’t Tom recognize his life is clouded by not forgiving his father? Is Tom too bent on killing his father to realize forgiveness frees the forgiver?