Wise words. My Dad was Catholic and my Mom is Jewish. I'll probably get some type of token to keep around my apartment along the lines of your advice over time to help me release these thoughts. It's a bit too soon right now, but it can only help.
I don't feel that I'm deliberately speaking ill of him, just recounting a factual foundation as basis for how deep it is for me. Since it's still fairly fresh, it really helped me to write it out. Confronting and forgiving him on his deathbed was probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but while that potentially gave him relief, it didn't help me much. I can forgive him internally, but I still have to come to my own peace with how he treated and looked at me for my life.
Thanks for your time and advice.
@steemmatt, I tried so hard to keep all of my comments with you brief; but, no success ;+). Please allow me to chime in a major correction to my original reply...;+)...
It keeps rising in my spirit, so here goes:
Well, huge CORRECTION:
He hates our sins; but loves us.
As a Christian, I give eternal thanks for His Son, Jesus, who in His obedience to His Father, died a horrific death, so that lost sinners, one and all, could be forgiven by God.
Without Jesus as a conduit, God would have to compromise our sinfulness…smh…not possible; because, then He would have the stain of sin on Himself…smh…not possible.
I live by the precept, I hate the sin; but, love the sinner.
Only God can define who's in sin, thus, those who judge, are actually sinning.
Only God knows the whole story of why people are as they are...And, what we see as a sin in someone else, may read in an entirely different script from God's vantage point.
In fact, he says what's sin to one, might not be sin to another...deep; but, critical to leaving the judging to Him (Romans 14:22); i.e. If a person believes in his heart of hearts that his life is ordained in a way by God, then, it would become sin to him to doubt. To doubt is to doubt God. So, believe what you believe, and if it's not God, ask Him to deliver you from the misguided 'truth'.
So, again, THANK-YOU JESUS for being the purification for us all. Thusly, when we are sincerely repentant of our sins, God is faithful to forgive us...(1John 1:9).
Peace.
Thanks for all of your overwhelming effort here. You really got me with your comments about some things being moot, someone failing him before, and that I gave him a gift for the other side. I can carry these concepts with me now. This is A++ effort and thought. Very much appreciated.
Praise God @steemmatt...Your words leave me humbled to 'near' tears ;+); as it blesses me to learn that what the Spirit breathes in me, resonates with the person it's directed towards.
Best regards on the journey.
Peace.