Forgiveness. It’s a word that’s been so hard for me to say, let
alone act on.
Coming from a world of hurt when I was a child, I grabbed up
my heart, worked hard to build walls, and set up camp right in the middle of
bitterness.
I let no one in.
I thought Jesus was as mad at me as my past was. I didn’t take the time to get to know Him, or even think about what salvation was.
I lived for myself. I hid behind people. I didn’t grow into
my skin. I looked for answers in the wrong places. I didn’t bury my past- I let
it define me. I let it reach in and take hold of my gears and rule me.
A few years ago, I got so blessed when I found my husband.
Both lost souls looking for something more, we found Jesus together. It took
hard work, and lots of prayer, but we made it. We held each other accountable.
We held one another up. We prayed for one each other. We weathered the storms.
God started working on my heart the moment I fully surrendered. I wanted so
badly to be free of my chains. The binds of the past.
My full circle moment came the moment my first born was laid
in arms. I was scared to death to be a mama. After all the hurt I had been
through, I didn’t know if I would be maternal. I didn’t know if I had the gene
to be selfless. But you know when they say you just know when changed? That day
I never looked back. God’s purpose is for me to be a mama and wife, and it has
utterly changed me from the core.
Do I still struggle? Everyday. I am working
hard to prove who I was wrong. I needed to forgive. I wanted to show my
children that their mama did what was right for Christ. I still felt an ache in
my soul, a part of me that couldn’t grow. I still had work to be done.
Forgiveness is a journey. It’s a hard, in your face voyage.
One that you have to do alone. Nobody can forgive for you. I had to go back and TELL people I was sorry, and I had to tell some
people “I forgive you”. At first I didn’t want to, the old part of me
wanted to run and hide, scared and in fear. But we don’t have to fear in
Christ. We can be redeemed and be brand new in Him. My first steps of deliverance
has been to say out loud and act on
forgiveness. It’s a state of mind. A tough battle you must win by being
brave. A chance to get it right and leave it, truly, behind. To start new.
It’s taken 26 years, but I am just now beginning to grow
into my skin.
The skin of Christ. The skin of love. The skin of forgiveness.
The skin of repentance. I had to leave my old flesh behind.
I had to peel back the layers and dig in, to find who I
really was, and what I needed to do to be brand new in Him. It was worth it.
Every “I’m sorry” and every “I forgive you” no matter what was done in the past.
Facing that fear, and then realizing it
wasn’t so big and scary to begin with. Letting
it go. For good.
Today, God is still working on me. I am a work in progress.
I fail, slip up, but I know that I have a God that forgives me in an instant. I
am so grateful. That is the lesson I am forever learning. Instant love.
Because, He first loved us.
anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a
new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Dawn St Amand Paoletta says
February 22, 2013 at 9:19 amWe are all works in progress, my sweet friend! May you continue to grow and glorify Him. Just as you are now doing! Thank you for braving the nakedness of vulnerability to share authentically from your heart. Beautiful.
Ashley Ditto says
February 22, 2013 at 6:00 pmThank you so much Dawn, you are such a blessing to me!
Jedidja says
February 22, 2013 at 9:28 amVery special. It’s like I read about myself.
http://kostbaar.blogspot.nl/
Ashley Ditto says
February 22, 2013 at 6:00 pmThank you so much sweet girl!
Jenn says
February 22, 2013 at 10:12 amAshley, TEARS!!! This is absolutely beautiful! “Instant Love”…. Yes! There is such truth there! We often forget that love.
Ashley Ditto says
February 22, 2013 at 6:00 pmThat means so much to me, thank you so much!
Jennifer Ovenshire says
February 22, 2013 at 12:21 pmI needed to read this today. Thank you for sharing your story.
Ashley Ditto says
February 22, 2013 at 6:00 pmYou are such an encouragement to me Jenn, thank you!
michelle @ this little light says
February 22, 2013 at 12:44 pmAnd what a beautiful work in progress you are, my friend! LOVE this post!
Ashley Ditto says
February 22, 2013 at 6:01 pmThank you dear Michelle, you are such a great friend to me!
A Mama's Story says
February 22, 2013 at 8:41 pmThis is great, Ashley!! I’m so proud of you for letting God mold and shape you! It’s fun to see how He’s working in your life! 🙂
Ashley Ditto says
February 22, 2013 at 10:43 pmThank you so much! Your words always lift me up!
Suzanne says
February 22, 2013 at 9:00 pmWhat a beautiful post, Ashley. I’m so proud of you!!
Ashley Ditto says
February 22, 2013 at 10:43 pmThank you Suzanne! That means so much!
Niki at For Journey's Sake says
February 22, 2013 at 11:15 pmMy favorite lines are. “Forgiveness is a journey” and “God is still working on me”. Aren’t you glad He doesn’t expect us to get it all together in one moment? It is His grace that loves us and allows us to learn as we go. He is an amazing Heavenly Father. Great post, Ashley!
Ashley Ditto says
February 22, 2013 at 11:29 pmNiki, thank you so very much!
Jennifer Camp says
February 23, 2013 at 1:03 amAshely, this is so beautiful, so true..just God’s word flowing through and healing. Thank you.
Ashley Ditto says
February 23, 2013 at 11:15 amJennifer, thank you so much dear girl.
Barbie says
February 23, 2013 at 2:59 amAshley, such a beautiful post. Thank you for your honesty. Forgiveness is not easy, in our flesh we cannot do it. But with Christ, is is possible to forgive and live free!
Ashley Ditto says
February 23, 2013 at 11:15 amThank you for everything and for your support. You are such a blessing to me Barbie
Tara (TP31S) says
February 23, 2013 at 6:51 amI was so excited to read your post 🙂 Thank you for sharing your heart. I am so glad I have the Lords strength on this forgiveness journey. Tara.
Ashley Ditto says
February 23, 2013 at 11:15 amTara, your friendship is such gold to me, thank you sweet girl!
Debbie Petras says
February 23, 2013 at 12:39 pmAshley, this is beautiful! How often our pasts end up defining our nows. But God did such a work in your heart. I love reading stories like this. And I so agree that we are a work in progress. Thank you for sharing from your heart. I know you will touch many hearts through your honest writing as you touched mine.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Ashley Ditto says
February 23, 2013 at 1:51 pmDebbie, thank you so very much.
Dayna says
February 28, 2013 at 1:56 pmSo proud of you Ashley! I too have been there. So broken down and controlled by my past. Thank Jesus He gave me the strength to let it all go and to place doors on my walls to open. I still find myself trying to build walls up when someone hurts me, but I know that Christ is there to guide my way through it and to help me do what is right versus hiding.