The Ad

I was reading a magazine yesterday. On the back of the magazine is The Ad. The Ad is a full-page picture of Serena Williams. Serena Williams was the #1 women's tennis player for years. The picture in The Ad shows Serena holding a tennis racquet. Makes sense. Wearing a tennis outfit. Makes sense. But The Ad isn't about tennis. The Ad is about how Serena Williams has lost 31 pounds in 20 months. Serena has lost 31 pounds in 20 months with a drug called GLP-1. The fine print at the bottom of The Ad is the bad news. You also need to change your diet. And increase your exercise. But nobody reads the fine print. Which brings me to, DON'T GO TO CHURCH THIS WEEK!!! This week, Jesus talks about forgiveness. Worse, this week, Jesus says, if I won't forgive, God won't forgive me. Of course, I want forgiveness. For me. I even want forgiveness, maybe, for the people I care about. As long as they haven't hurt me too much. But I sure don't wanna forgive THEM. You know, that Sunday School song...."Jesus loves me this I know. But not you, you So-and-So! Little ones to Him belong. But not you, you did me wrong!" I ain't gonna forgive THEM. Yes, I know. When I nailed Jesus to a cross, He prayed, "Father, forgive THEM..." But I'm only human. I can't do that! Let me take cover, behind my excuses. Maybe there's another way. Maybe Jesus commands me to forgive because He knows forgiveness is like The Ad. Maybe Jesus sees forgiveness as an opportunity for me. An opportunity to lose weight from my heart. Like losing pounds, forgiveness ain't easy. Forgiveness takes time. Forgiveness takes heart work. Sadness, anger, tears, letting go. Ain't easy. But maybe Jesus sees forgiveness like The Ad. Maybe forgiveness is an opportunity to lose weight from my heart. I don't feel like forgiving THEM. With God's help, I will work to forgive THEM. "Bless THEM, change me. Bless THEM, change me." I will repeat that a million billion times...."Bless THEM, change me." Until my heart catches up with my lips. That I might lose weight from my heart. From my heart.