I asked my friend Zahid to tell his story this month. Although Zahid is not a Christian, he had a very meaningful experience. I believe his story needs to be shared.

Background

I am Zahid. I’ve worked at several private organizations in South Asia for about 14 years. Recently, I worked for five and a half years at the embassy of a Middle Eastern country. There, I worked with honesty and efficiency like I did in my previous organizations. My two managers who were foreign diplomats were happy with my work because I was very knowledgeable in all aspects of the visa department.

However, two of my South Asian colleagues envied me. They were the oldest officials in the visa center. They wanted a team where they would have all the power, and the others would simply do what they said. They felt threatened by someone as qualified as they were. So, they waited for an opportunity to achieve their goal.

At the end of 2019, the two foreign diplomatic managers were posted to other countries. Then my supervisor transferred me to another department where the work was less important.

COVID and Layoffs

Then, a new operations manager, a diplomat, came to South Asia. Within a few days of his arrival, the COVID pandemic started in South Asia. After COVID, the office ran on a limited scale. A few months later, the Middle Eastern country to which our embassy belonged started laying off employees in almost all their missions around the world.

When the layoffs began in South Asia, I wasn’t too worried because everyone liked me for my work. In addition, all my colleagues thought that I was at the top in terms of performance. When the embassy laid off even more staff, our new operations manager made a list of low-performing officials to lay off at the end of 2021. I was not one of them.

However, my supervisor saw that one of his favorites was on the list to be laid off, so he influenced the new operations manager to lay me off instead of his favorite. My supervisor explained that I was from a rich family, and I would be able to survive financially without a job after the pandemic.

Since the operations manager was new, he knew very little about me. Finally, what I did not expect happened. I was laid off. The truth is, I was not from a rich family, I was from a poor family. My operations manager later found out everything about me, about my family and my office performance, but by then it was too late. Much later, he said to me, “I was not well informed about you. If there was an opportunity to take on new people, I would definitely take you.” After COVID, I started having problems finding a job. I was unemployed for almost a year and a half. I suffered a lot both mentally and financially.

Feelings of Intense Hatred

When I learned that they excluded me because of jealousy and false accusations, I felt intense hatred towards those two colleagues. I constantly hated them in my heart. I wished them harm, and I cursed them. I became mentally disturbed and went into depression because of the trouble I was facing. I could not accept that my hard work could be rewarded so badly. My self-confidence deteriorated. After a few months, I recovered a little, but I could not forget the injustice done to me. I was not finding mental relief.

At the end of 2022, due to my wife’s job as a teacher in a college, I left the capital and moved to a small town. There I met Neil. One day I shared this incident with him. He told me to forgive both of my former colleagues. I was totally surprised at this. I should forgive those who did wrong?

He explained the importance and the benefits of forgiveness. After some discussion, I agreed with Neil, but I didn’t want to forgive them just then. I said, “I’ll do it after my early morning prayers when my mind is clear.” Two days later, after my morning prayers, with a cool head and meditative heart, I told the Creator that I have forgiven the wrongdoings of both of my former colleagues. I didn’t stop there. I forgave everyone who hurt me, everyone who spoke harsh words, and everyone who wounded me. I also told the Creator that I no longer hold any grudge against anyone in the world, nor do I curse anyone. I have forgiven everyone.

How I Felt Afterward

Since this incident, I felt a strange mental relief. I started feeling very light and my love for everyone increased. I no longer have any anger towards the two people who did the most harm to me in my life. It was like suffering from a severe headache all night and then feeling so good in the morning when the headache is gone. Now I feel so good. Previously, I had not been able to understand the great importance of forgiveness. Thank you, Mr. Neil.

And thank you, Zahid!

Why don’t you take a moment to pray for God’s blessings on Zahid? You could also ask the Lord if there is anyone in your life whom you need to forgive.