Can you really ever count on people?

Day 2 of Holy Week brings me to reading John 13:21-38. Jesus picked Judas as one of His inner circle, the men in whom He chose to invest His life while on this earth. As we know, Judas betrayed Jesus. I've read that the word traitor means someone who hands another over to suffering.

Guess by that definition, I've been a traitor before in my life - just ask my husband or sons, the ones who know me best. I really think that each of us hands over another to suffering somehow, somewhere, often without meaning to or even being aware that we're doing it; it seems to be part of the human condition.

Yes it hurts really bad when someone I love betrays me. But somehow, I think that in recognizing that I'm not without the same sin in myself, I can move past the pain and into forgiveness. Without recognizing my own need to come to God and seek His forgiveness for my betrayal of my loved ones, or even of my faith, then I'm both without the need or ability to extend forgiveness to others. Without forgiveness from God and to others, I'll stay bound in the pain.

I don't want to live that way!

Oh Father, thank You for Your forgiveness! Please make me aware today. Aware of the suffering that I may be causing others, and if I am, help me, by your grace and power, to change. Aware of any unforgiveness that I may be harboring in my heart; if unforgiveness is there, may I choose, by Your power, to forgive.