我妻子29岁时，对我说她的膝盖失去知觉，那时我们二人都没有太担心这件事。我们实在是太无知了：这就是一条艰难旅程的开始，那种麻木的感觉是多发性硬化症的病征。当她的症状变得越来越加剧时，我们才意识到这是一个严重的问题。上楼梯时，她需要扶着别人的手臂；她眼睛有复视的毛病；她又越来越没有力气。随着年日的增长，她就丧失得更多，她说：“我是在逐个小时地接近死亡。”她伤痛的自白真是相当贴切。
如果说我们一直在挣扎，丝毫没有言过其词。我妻子在挣扎，我们一家在挣扎，我也在挣扎。而我也不是常常能够履行我的承诺、尽本份做一个有爱心和体贴她的丈夫。。
某天黄昏，我们在敬老院 － 那个她已住了八年的“家”－ 聊天时，我知道我必须把这个令我不安的事实告诉她。为什么在这个时候说呢？我不知道，然而我深信是神的灵在作工。于是我对她说：“Thelma，有时我没有好好待你；太多时候我没有耐性、不够和善、和没有爱心了。我非常抱歉。”
她的回应令我非常惊讶：“可我的记忆中从没有这样的事。”她不但宽恕了我，她更不记在心里！何等仁厚、慈爱、亲切、宽大，还有医治。她依照耶稣的吩咐，从心底里饶恕我。我感谢她，我也感谢神。
主啊，我们为那些懂得饶恕的人感谢你。求你帮助我们也去饶恕人。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
马太福音 18:21-35
21那时，彼得进前来，对耶稣说：“主啊，我弟兄得罪我，我当饶恕他几次呢？到七次可以吗？”
22耶稣说：“我对你说，不是到七次，乃是到七十个七次。
23天国好像一个王要和他仆人算帐。
24才算的时候，有人带了一个欠一千万银子的来。
25因为他没有什么偿还之物，主人吩咐把他和他妻子儿女并一切所有的都卖了偿还。
26那仆人就俯伏拜他，说：‘主啊，宽容我！将来我都要还清。’
27那仆人的主人就动了慈心，把他释放了，并且免了他的债。
28“那仆人出来，遇见他的一个同伴欠他十两银子，便揪着他，掐住他的喉咙，说：‘你把所欠的还我！’
29他的同伴就俯伏央求他，说：‘宽容我吧！将来我必还清。’
30他不肯，竟去把他下在监里，等他还了所欠的债。
31众同伴看见他所做的事，就甚忧愁，去把这事都告诉了主人。
32于是主人叫了他来，对他说：‘你这恶奴才！你央求我，我就把你所欠的都免了。
33你不应当怜恤你的同伴，像我怜恤你吗？’
34主人就大怒，把他交给掌刑的，等他还清了所欠的债。
35你们各人若不从心里饶恕你的弟兄，我天父也要这样待你们了。”
"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?" - Matthew 18:21
With considerable personal discomfort, I share today's thoughts with you.
At the age of 29, my wife mentioned that her knees felt numb. Neither of us was greatly concerned. But we were naïve: that was the beginning of a very challenging journey. The numbness was a symptom of multiple sclerosis. As her symptoms became more troublesome, we knew there was a serious problem. She needed an arm to lean on when climbing stairs; her vision doubled; her stamina decreased. As the years became decades of loss, her description was sadly apt: "I am dying by inches."
To say that we struggled is an understatement. My wife did, our family did, I did. And I wasn't always the loving and caring husband I should have been and had promised to be.
One evening, as we were visiting in the nursing home that was her "home" for eight years, I knew I had to speak about this uncomfortable truth with her. Why on that evening? I don't know, but I'm convinced God's Spirit was at work. So I said, "Thelma, there were times I didn't treat you well. I was impatient, unkind, and unloving far too often. I am very sorry."
Her response amazed me: "I don't remember that." She had not only forgiven; she had forgotten! How gracious, loving, kind, and generous! And healing. She forgave as Jesus calls us to—from the heart. I thank her, and I thank God.
Lord, thank you for people who forgive well. Please help us to be forgivers too. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
