My oldest daughter was born when I was 22 years old. I was not married, but I did love her mother very much. I had no relationship with Christ at this time in my life either. I was still trying to find the answers to my life through other avenues. Needless to say I was terrified of being a father and I made many mistakes along the way, one of which was not being there for my daughters mother "Carrie". Soon after the arrival of my daughter, within the first year Carrie started sleeping with my best friend. She would soon leave my daughter and I and move in with him. His name was "Mike".

     I was devastated! I was betrayed by the two closest people to me outside of my family. I was hurt and angry. I would eventually reconcile things with Carrie, but this story is about Mike and I.

     About 3 years went by and I gave my life to Jesus! Carrie and I had reconciled, but I had never forgiven Mike and I had no contact with him. One day I was driving home and the Lord spoke to me and told me to go to Mike's parents house. My response was "no!" Again he told me to go by his house, and on my route home I would have to make a left turn. At this same intersection I could make a right to go to Mike's parents. Well, I made the left and continued on my way home. The Lord would not let this go and He continued to urge me to go to Mike's. So I angrily made a u-turn and headed to Mike's.

     On the drive to Mike's I was nervous. Here I was headed to his place and I really had nothing I wanted to say to him. I arrived and knocked on the front door. His mother answered the door and I asked if Mike were in. She said yes and went to go get Him. When he came to the door he was shocked to see me, and his first response was "I'm surprised your caught me, I'm almost never here anymore." There was no doubt in my mind that the Lord wanted me here at this time, and I began to tell him how Carrie and I had accepted Christ into our lives and had gotten married. I told him about Jesus and then I went home. I never saw Mike again, but this was not the end of the story either.

     A few weeks had past since I had seen Mike. I was at work eating lunch at my desk, when the Lord began to do something inside of me. I could feel His presence so strong and I began weeping.  I felt such pain and sorrow, and somehow I knew it was what Mike was feeling. I said to the Lord "I forgave Him!" The Lord said "Forgive him again." About this time a co-worker came and asked me if I was ok. I told him that I was, but the Lord was doing something in me. I began to pray forgiving Mike and praying that he may find comfort and healing for the pain and sorrow he felt.

     I realized  that when I had gone to see Mike, I did so in obedience to Christ. I said what I felt God wanted me to say, but I can also tell you that I did not feel love for Mike at that time. God showed me that day at work that He was restoring me. I felt His love for Mike, and it simply broke me. Holding onto the pain I felt had kept me from seeing things through the eyes of Jesus and the love He showed us all at Calvary. The pain I once felt for the man who betrayed me was washed away, and God's love was pouring through me. I thank Jesus my Lord and Savior for the love He showed me on the day I was born again. He quickened me out of darkness into the light and gave me a new nature. How blessed are we to be called the children of God!

God is Love!