Your Choice: Forgiveness: As illustrated by the comparison and contrast of the deaths of Ivan Ilych and Granny Weatherall as reflecting the philosophy

Merrylynn Cox has learned about forgiveness from God Himself. She almost had to call it curtains on her relationship with God because she couldn't meet the simple standards he set to enter heaven. She had lived in unforgiveness for her mother-in-law for years, believing she was the entire problem for her unstable husband and marriage. When the youngest have of her children was a few months old, she admitted to God that she simply couldn't forgive her husband's mother.
As Merryl told God in prayer that she simply could not do it and find it in her heart to love her, she had the distinct feeling of slipping into the darkness of hell forever. She had to tell God and all His goodness goodbye.
God actually spoke in Merryl's spirit. He said, "Do you think you could get out of the way and let ME love her through you?"
Feeling hell closing in around her, Merryl said, "Under the circumstances, God, I think I could do that," and she immediately felt the ascension out of hell and the light getting brighter around her.
But God wouldn't let her off the hook; she had to actually go to her mother-in-law and apologize for her bad attitude. And God let her know that she could not say anything about her hateful attitude over the years. After a couple of false starts, Merryl actually did it. She simply asked for her forgiveness.
She was amazed at the change that simple act of forgiveness made in her mother-in-law. She actually stopped her drinking, and Merryl found out, through obedience to God, that they could actually live in peace.
Merrylynn hopes that these two short story geniuses can bring their stories about forgiveness home to you.
Merrylynn makes her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has a BA in English and Art.