17. Forgiving the Unforgivable: A Christmas Story

Christmas is a season of hope, joy, and peace, but for many, it is a season when old hurts resurface, reminding us of things that are anything but joyful.

Vona Johnson explores the profound theme of forgiveness in this heartfelt episode of Courageous Retirement. Reflecting on personal stories, Christian teachings, and poignant examples, Vona encourages listeners to release long-held hurts and embrace the true spirit of Christmas—granting and receiving forgiveness.

Using insights from Lora Johnson's book 'The Night I Met Santa,'  she demonstrates how connecting with forgiveness can bring peace and joy into your life.  If you  are looking for ways to make this Christmas more meaningful than ever, you will want to tune into this episode.

Scripture Referenced:
Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

Quote from Lora Johnson, " Christmas is all about getting the gift that we never deserved and never will."

Listen to the interview with Lora Johnson and hear the story here:
https://bit.ly/Night_I_Met_Santa

Purchase the Book: https://www.thenightimetsanta.com/books/the-night-i-met-santa

00:00 The Season of Forgiveness
00:32 Introducing Courageous Retirement
00:51 The True Meaning of Christmas
02:03 The Importance of Forgiveness
04:07 Practical Steps to Forgiveness
06:09 Reflecting on Personal Hurts
08:41 Finding Joy in Forgiveness
09:01 Looking Forward to the New Year

Thank you for stopping by today! Remember to Engage Your Faith and Live Your More as you reap the benefits of Courageous Retirement!

To watch the video, check out my YouTube Channel!

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at CourageousRetirement.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Transcript

0:00

Christmas is a season of hope, joy, love, and giving, but for many of us, it's also a season when old hurts resurface. Have you ever felt a hurt that was so deep that it felt like forgiveness was impossible? Maybe it was a family rift, a broken promise, or maybe even something that you can't forgive yourself for. Today, we're going to talk about the hardest gift to give this season forgiveness. By the end of this episode, you're going to see how forgiveness is not only possible. But it's the greatest gift that you can give and receive. I hope you'll join us.

Speaker: 0:33

Do you fear what lies beyond retirement? What if it's a gateway to a life filled with purpose, meaning, and adventure rather than an end? Discover peace and fulfillment as you boldly enter this new chapter in Courageous Retirement, a Christian podcast. I'm your host, author and coach, Vona Johnson. Let's get started.

0:51

As children, we start out focusing on the gifts and then as we get older, we start to realize kind of like the Grinch in the Grinch that stole Christmas. We began to realize that Christmas is about so much more. It wasn't until I purchased a book called The Night I Met Santa" by Lora Johnson. And it really struck me because it takes. The story of Santa and a little boy who was pretty rambunctious and, and actually just quite naughty on Christmas Eve. And his mom took his stocking away and told him that he didn't deserve to have any presents.. I interviewed her and learned about her backstory of how it all came about. What I really love. About that story. Is that it really it hits to the core of Christianity. It hits to the core of why Jesus came down. We know this, we know that he came to forgive us for our sins, but sometimes we forget to make that link between when he came down as a little baby in a manger that we sing about in all the beautiful Christmas carols. And we forget to make the link to the man who died on the cross 30 some years later. And it's all about forgiveness. Those of us at the retirement age, especially, I think you begin to realize how important it is that we focus on that aspect of forgiveness, both for ourselves and the people that we need to forgive, but then also for our families and to help them realize that we all need to give forgiveness. You may be struggling to offer forgiveness to someone who has hurt you. Maybe it was over a harsh conversation about politics in this very difficult year where we were all in disagreement with someone. Or maybe it was, a conversation years ago with a family member or a friend or a coworker. That has just left a lingering hurt in our heart. It could go all the way back to our childhood where something was done, that was very, very harmful or damaging. We have sometimes have a tendency to categorize sins and we have a tendency sometimes to think that other people's sins are worse than our sins. If those people have hurt us. Badly. We have a tendency to want to hang on to that hurt and, and hold that against them. Yes, we need to have boundaries and we need to protect ourselves from being hurt again. But we also need to forgive. And something that really came to mind to me recently that really surprised and almost shocked me was the fact that. We know the Lord's prayer where it says, give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us, our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. What I didn't realize. I knew forgiveness was a big thing, but what I did not realize. Until really just recently, was the very next clause after Jesus gives. His apostles, the Lord's prayer Says if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your father will not forgive you. Ouch. Who in your life? Have you been holding on to. That gift of grace, that gifted forgiveness that you could give, who are you preventing their freedom and your own freedom by forgiving them for whatever it is that they did. Again, yes, we need to have boundaries and we need to not put ourselves in harm's way. But we need to forgive. And truly that's what the Christmas story is all about. I want to encourage you to go listen to. The the story. The night I met Santa's by Lora Johnson. I recorded it on my show. Longing for more years ago, actually it was five years ago. This Christmas. Uh, I did an interview with Lora on episode 83 of Longing for More. And I will put a link to the show in my show notes today. and then I also did a bonus recording of me reading the story. And I just encourage you to go listen to that bonus episode. If you have time, listen to the interview with Lora because it is just a beautiful example of grace and it's such a beautiful reminder and these are Lora's words, not my own, but it's a reminder that Christmas is all about. Getting the gift. We never deserved. And never will. Think about that. Christmas is all about getting the gift that we never deserved and never will. I love that. They're just brings me joy. But I also like how the book ties. Our traditional thoughts of Christmas with Santa together with the true meaning of Christmas and helps make it real for children. So I hope you'll listen to it. I hope you'll share it with your children. And I just pray that as you enter into this week of Christmas and beyond. That you will. Think about who in your life? Do you need to forgive? Maybe you have an estranged relationship with one of your children. And there's a lot of pain from years of lack of communication or strained communication about some of the life choices that they've made. Or maybe it's a hurt from a past friendship and that friendship was broken from a betrayal or a misunderstanding of some sort that's just never healed. Maybe there's some conflict in your marriage and decades old unresolved issues or deep hurts that have been buried in your marriage resurface as you go into retirement and you're starting to spend more time together Is it possible that you have workplace wounds from unappreciated overlook or maybe misunderstood circumstances during your career? Is it possible that you have some church conflict that lingers in your heart? There have been disagreements over leadership decisions that have been made. Or even theological perspectives that are happening within your congregation that led to division and possibly you even leaving the church. It's possible maybe for you or someone, you know, that there have been family disputes over inheritances or caregiving and in the proper way to handle those So often arguments come out over wills and caregiving responsibilities for aging parents. And people fight over the property, who should have gotten what, and is it time to let that go? You possibly may be, have hurts from your neighbors or other community members on disagreements over property lines, or how things are supposed to be taken care of. Maybe you're offended by something that was said or done in the past. And is it truly time to let that go? And most importantly, is there a need for self-forgiveness. Are you living with regret over missed opportunities, unkind words, or just mistakes that have happened in the past? Maybe it's something even as big as having a past abortion, is it time to let yourself have forgiveness and to truly move on. I'm guessing somebody's name has come up for you as you were listening to this episode. And I want you to write it down right now. And then I want you to pray about it. I want you to ask God to help you to forgive. Because if you haven't done it by now, you can't do it on your own. You'll need his help. So ask him to help you to forgive. And just get on your knees or when you're out for a walk. It doesn't matter. But just pray and ask him to help you and then let it go. And find the joy in Christmas, joy. Isn't all about the laughter and the fun and the cookies and the eggnog, joy is about. Finding rest in our Lord and trusting that he has a beautiful plan for us, even through the difficult times in our lives. I just want to thank you for stopping by today. Next episode will be in 2025. I am excited to share some really fun episodes with you coming into the new year. And I'm just so blessed that you are here. I have an amazing Christmas if this is after Christmas and you're still listening to it, I just hope you have an amazing day. And remember that. All of our time. Has in the season of advent is waiting for Christ. We are still waiting for Christ. So seek him always seek him first above all else. And your life will just be so full of joy and happiness. Maybe not the happiness, always, but the joy in knowing that he's got your back. Thanks again for stopping by today. I pray that you will engage your faith with whoever God brings to you in this holiday season. And that you will live your more and experience the fullness. That courageous retirement can bring into your life. God bless.