One day I was lamenting to my friend, Jenny, that someone I thought was my friend had done something that hurt me. It was a terrible feeling, and I was having difficulty letting it go. As I talked about the situation and my feelings of having been betrayed, Jenny told me about “the pink dress.”
Jenny’s young daughter, Laura, had been asked to loan her special pink “princess” dress to a friend so she could wear it to a birthday party. This was Laura’s treasured dress, but Jenny wanted to teach her about sharing and being helpful, so they loaned the dress — on a hanger — crisp, fluffy, and clean.
Laura was anxious to get the dress back, so a few days after the party, Jenny called to request that it be returned. Several days later, the dress was dropped off — in a bag — on their front porch. It was soiled, dirty, torn, and even had tire tracks on it! The friend never apologized. She never offered to get it cleaned, repaired, or replaced. Jenny and Laura were left holding a dirty, wadded-up, torn dress.
I saw Jenny and that friend out shopping one day and was surprised. When I saw her later, I asked how she could continue the friendship after what her friend had done, especially since she had never apologized.
Jenny said she had been very upset at first but then she realized she sins against her friends, too. Since she cherished the friendship, she forgave her. She also pointed out that when she sins against God, He forgives her. Now when I feel someone has treated me badly, I think about “the pink dress.” It helps me put the incident in perspective.
Can you remember a time when you felt someone left you dirty, wadded-up and torn with heartache? Most of us can recall a situation when we felt someone did us wrong. And if we really think about it, we can probably recall times when we were the one who mistreated someone.
Is there someone God wants you to forgive? Is there someone you need to talk to about forgiving you?
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
Pam Means
There have been a few “extra large” pink dresses in my life. Forgiveness is especially difficult when it’s that large, but I found in order to be faithful to God, my heart has to open and let it go even if the other person doesn’t accept that forgiveness. It’s not always one sided, but He knows your real heart and loves us because we tried. I love your insight into your personal stories! Keep it up!