The best piece of equipment for security in relationships is the assurance of forgiveness. The late Dr. E.V. Hill of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles told a story about a time when he and his wife, Jane, were having financial struggles. When he came home one night, he found the house completely dark. As he stepped inside, he noticed Jane had prepared a candlelight dinner. E.V. went into the washroom to wash his hands, but the light would not turn on. Then he felt his way into the bedroom and flipped the switch. Nothing happened.

E.V. made his way back into the dining room and asked Jane why the electricity wasn’t working. She began to cry as she told him, “You work so hard, and we’re trying; but it’s pretty rough. I didn’t have quite enough money to pay the light bill. I didn’t want you to know about it, so I thought we would just eat by candlelight.”

Dr. Hill remembered, “She could have said, ‘I’ve never been in this situation before. I was reared in the home of Dr. Caruthers, and we never had our lights cut off.’ She could have broken my spirit; she could have ruined me; she could have demoralized me. But instead she said, ‘Somehow or another we’ll get these lights on. But let’s eat tonight by candlelight.’” In Dr. Hill’s opinion, this was one of her finest moments.

When men fail, it is easy for us to be overcome with feelings of embarrassment, insecurity, and guilt . . . unless we are assured of forgiveness. That’s where women come in. Through forgiveness, a godly woman can do much to help a man regain his confidence and be the leader God wants him to be.

Ladies, has a man in your life failed you? Show him that his failure is not final, and offer him forgiveness. This will be your finest moment.