To forgive seventy times seven times? It can be so difficult to forgive even once! Recently I read the story of a woman whose young, beautiful and intelligent daughter had been murdered. Many years after the incident she was still very disturbed. Her heart was never at peace, for she could not forgive her daughter's murderer. One day when praying for guidance, she had a vision. She saw some writing in the sky: "Jack (the murderer) asks for your forgiveness." Suddenly she received power from God and was able to forgive. From that moment on, she was at peace, relieved of the pain of being unforgiving.

Forgiveness brings peace. The unforgiving servant did not realize how great was the gift of forgiveness, and did not enjoy the peace that would have allowed him to forgive his fellow-servant. If all of us were to accept God's forgiveness of our sins and, in turn, forgive the sins of others, the world would begin to be at peace.