How many relationship advice books, talks, or articles have you read/heard that preach the importance of forgiveness? Coming off a holiday in which Christians celebrate the supreme act of sacrifice and ultimately forgiveness, now is a most appropriate time to emphasize the healing power of forgiving others.
But
are you forgiving yourself, too? Only
the most dysfunctional person doesn’t feel remorse over something he or she has
done or neglected to do. In January particularly,
people wallow in regret over some social or familial misstep or are in despair
and self-reproach over their extravagance during the holidays as they start to
face their swollen credit card bills.
When
it comes to finances, I think I can safely say that almost no one can recall everything
he has charged on his credit card over the last thirty days without consulting
his card statement. And hopefully he IS
consulting it every month. I have a friend
that, despite being advised to do so, rarely if ever checked her credit card
statements. She got a shock last week
when she discovered by reviewing her credit card bill that she was getting
charged extra fees for the allegedly inexpensive items she was buying online
and through TV shopping networks. She
swears she’s going to stop shopping like that.
A good New Year’s resolution, yes?
But
resolving to do better with your finances is only half the battle, isn’t
it? The bills from December still must
be paid, and trying to scrape together the money to pay them off might be a
challenge. You are reminded each month
of your past financial sins. But not
moving past the guilt you might feel, not forgiving yourself, nor looking to
the future, will inhibit you from implementing the change you desire.
I
know. This sounds very Pollyannish. The power of positive thinking,
self-forgiveness, and so on. But remember
the greatest event of all time that we just celebrated December 25. It might have been buried in your spending
spree, but it was still there and is still here as we begin a new year. You are not defined by your mistakes or your
worst moments.
Set
a couple of financial goals for 2024.
Share those resolutions with a friend who can help hold you accountable
to them. (And maybe your resolutions can
also include fostering more of those types of friendships.) And put the guilt behind you.
Until next
time,
Roger
“I, even I,
am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your
sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 NIV*
*Scripture
quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright
© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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