“Let all” is where I have gotten stuck at for so long in reading these verses in Ephesians. In a previous blog, I talked about this term All and it continues to bother me. I think because if we could all be real for just a moment – that when it comes to “our” Christianity that we rarely give All. I believe that it has something to do with our fleshly nature. We try to hold on to things to show that we have control. Well the writer is telling us that there are some things that we are holding on to that we are not releasing and with that it makes it difficult for us to forgive. The whole point of this is to release all.

But I feel that this verse is using “all”, so that we can be free of the things that hold us captive. So let’s take a look at each of these so that we can move forward with the process of forgiveness. Yes, it is a process. You don’t just wake up one morning and say oh I am going to forgive today. But with the help of God, you process through it.

BITTERNESS: When I reviewed this term, bitterness, there was one distinct definition. Bitterness in the (1) sense of bitter gall and hatred; (2) a bitterroot and so producing bitter fruit; (3) resentment.

Have you ever tasted the rind or the hull of a lemon or grapefruit? It is bitter and without a sweet taste or nature. Not enticing at all and not something that you would just eat as a snack.

I want to talk a little about the bitter root mentioned in the definition above. Bitterroot is a plant that renders a flower that has a bitter taste to it. The flower was used for healing abilities and even as a delicacy but sweetener was added to give it a taste that would be desirable. Interesting, right?

Have you ever noticed how when you eat something that is bitter you create a face or you grimace. Bitterness and resentment does the same thing. Over time you develop a scowl on your face that you walk around with; living your life as if nothing bothers you when others can clearly see that you are bitter about something.

It is interesting how bitterness causes us to create faces and it alters our mood. Even to the point of changing our own perception of ourselves.

Remember the story of Ruth and Naomi. Naomi was a wife who lost her husband and two sons to death. She was left with her two daughter in laws and ultimately one remained with her -Ruth. But Naomi had a problem as decision was made for them to leave their home Bethlehem, to travel to Moab during the famine. In making this decision, Naomi would lose all that she cared for because of a decision. She decided that she would return to her people in Bethlehem and when she returned, someone one spotted her. They did not recognize her and the town people asked, “Is this Naomi?” – she told them to not call her Naomi but to call her Mara (name meaning bitter) because the Lord had made her life bitter.

Some of us can relate to Naomi – because of life decisions and changes we have become bitter and now it’s beginning to show on the outside that what was once a pleasant view has now turned bitter. We must let it go!