Let Go of that Banana!

Let go of that banana!

I remember so clearly a story my grandmother told me when I was so little…A monkey was bounding happily through the jungle and saw a small cage with bars very close together. Inside the cage was one, ripe banana. Ah! The little monkey couldn’t resist. He had to turn his little hand sideways to squeeze through the bars and grab the banana. Once he had the banana in his little fist, he tried to pull his hand back out of the cage, but he was stuck. He pulled and struggled and jumped around, but there was no way he could get that banana out. What’s more, he couldn’t escape the cage unless he dropped the banana and turned his hand sideways. There were bunches and bunches of other delicious bananas hanging in the trees all around him, but our stubborn little friend wouldn’t let go of the banana in the cage! Hanging on meant being trapped; letting go meant freedom and the promise of tasty snacks abundant in the jungle around him.

I remember smugly thinking how ridiculous that little monkey was. I would never have done that! Of course, I would let go of that one silly banana and choose freedom and the promise of more fruit snacks awaiting me in the jungle. But, not so fast! I notice that at time, when the banana is anger from a wrong someone has inflicted upon me, I cling to that banana with incredible strength and stubbornness. I know in my head that releasing the anger is the only way to experience the peace and freedom that comes with forgiveness, but at times I still stay “trapped” by my inability to release. I know God has forgiven me and continues to forgive me more times than I can ever count or begin to deserve, but I don’t always model that forgiveness the way that I want to.

What “bananas” are you hanging on to? Wouldn’t the peace and freedom that comes with forgiveness taste so much sweeter than the anger you’re holding so tightly? Try it. Slowly loosen your grip on the anger and move gently toward the peace and freedom that comes when we forgive as we have been forgiven.

Peace and forgiveness are yours,

Dr. Paula