Answers
By BGEA Staff • April 17, 2024 • Topics: Forgiveness
Q:
It is hard to get over the guilt I feel since my parents passed away. In their last years of life, I was very busy in my career and raising my family. My parents were struggling as they aged and dealt with weakness and pain, and no doubt loneliness. I sent them money, but I didn’t go to them and be there for them. This failure of mine has grieved me unto sickness and the burden is too hard to bear, because I can’t change it. What can a person do to overcome this horrible memory and the selfishness that caused it?
A:
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Sadly, we often don’t realize how heavy another person’s burden is until we walk along a similar path. Most of us are insensitive to the sufferings of others until we experience them ourselves. We become wrapped up in our own circumstances and overlook the needs of those around us—even members of our own family. But this isn’t God’s plan. We are to show our love by bearing one another’s burdens.
We can’t change the past; it may be too late to apologize to someone for our thoughtlessness. As Christians, we don’t need to carry around a burden of guilt over what we cannot change, but we can turn our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to forgive and show us ways to help others in need.
We cannot change the past, but we can change our behavior and look for others to help, while carrying His love to those who need a gentle touch and a helping hand. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, ESV).
(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
