It slips in quietly—like a crack in a windowpane, a slight draft that makes you shiver even when the sun still shines. Mine began with a single verse I couldn’t bring myself to say:

“As we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Those words lodged in my throat like stones. My hurt ran deep—so deep it rattled the foundation of what I believed about God, grace, and love itself. Every time I prayed The Lord’s Prayer, my voice faltered at that line.

It wasn’t rebellion; it was grief.

The Breaking Point

Then came Sister Jane.

She wasn’t loud or imposing; her strength lived in stillness. Week after week, we sat together with Scripture spread before us—some days in quiet, others through tears.

She didn’t rush my process.
She didn’t tell me to “just move on.”

She invited me to sit in the ache until I could hear God whisper through it.

Healing didn’t arrive with lightning.
It arrived like sunrise—slow, patient, and steady.

Relearning Trust

One afternoon, while reading Psalm 34, a phrase stood out:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.”

Not the strong.
Not the unwavering.
The brokenhearted.

In that moment, I realized my fragility wasn’t faithlessness—it was the very soil where faith grows.

When Faith Shakes, Grace Holds

We tend to think strong faith means never wavering.

But sturdy faith?
It trembles.
It questions.
It wrestles.

And that’s where it becomes real.

The Takeaway

If you’re struggling to forgive, start by being honest about it.

Say it.
Write it.
Let it breathe.

Healing doesn’t demand perfection—it asks for permission.

And when you finally whisper the words “as we forgive,”
you may find they sound lighter… freer… truer.

—

Reflection:
Have you ever struggled to forgive—and found freedom when you finally let go?

Affirmation:
Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting; it’s about freeing your heart to heal.

About the Author

There are some souls who seem to live with one foot in the ordinary and the other quietly anchored in something eternal. SherriAnne Leslie is one of those—equal parts teacher, storyteller, and tender observer of life’s hidden lessons. A lifelong seeker of meaning and beauty, she believes that faith is not a thing we simply hold but something that gently holds us.

Through seasons of uncertainty, loss, and rediscovery, SherriAnne has learned that growth often comes disguised as surrender, and that hope can be rediscovered in the most unassuming of places—over a cup of tea, in a student’s laughter, or within the still hush of an early morning prayer. Her work and reflections invite others to rest for a while, breathe deeply, and remember that even in the quietest moments, light is still at work within us.

From one treasure hunter of light to another…