When you learn to forgive and accept yourself, it means you have come to terms with your humanity and learned to be at peace with your imperfections. You realise that what you have been through, together with the grace of God, has made you the person you are today. Veronica Shoffstall said: ‘After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul…that love doesn’t mean leaning, and company doesn’t always mean security…that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead, with the grace of [an adult], not the grief of a child, and you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much, so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure, you really are strong, you really do have worth…’ Those words can be summed up in one phrase: ‘living life on life’s terms’. Is it easy to do? No. And on days when life’s terms seem too hard to cope with, God’s promise to you is this: ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ And that’s a promise you can stand on!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.