While The Last Dance documentary about Michael Jordan and the Bulls has been airing, people have spoken very highly of Jordan and have confirmed his many positive qualities.

But along with being hardworking, loyal, fun, and inspiring, his weaknesses and character flaws have also been revealed. He’s become known for holding grudges and proving people wrong, and although he used any perceived slight as motivation for his benefit, it has cost him relationships.

It’s well-documented that he had bad feelings toward the late Bulls GM, Jerry Krause, and is still mad at former Pistons guard, Isaiah Thomas.

The other severed relationship back in the news is with former Olympic teammate and NBA rival, Charles Barkley. They used to be close friends who hung out regularly and played golf together. According to Barkley, “The guy was like a brother to me for, shoot, 20-something years.”

Unfortunately, their friendship ended in 2012 and they no longer speak to one other. Barkley has indicated it was a result of comments he made about Jordan as an NBA owner in Charlotte.

He criticized Jordan for hiring his friends because he thought they’d prevent him from being successful. Barkley gave this explanation: “Very few of your friends are going to be honest with you. And that’s very hard for any celebrity, but especially somebody of his stature.”

The irony of that comment is that Barkley considered himself an honest friend of Jordan’s and is an NBA analyst who says it like it is, but he obviously hit a nerve.

I hate hearing about relationships ending, especially as a result of genuine criticism, but I’m sure many of us have experienced a severed friendship or a fracture with a family member over something that was said and received as being hurtful.

We are more likely to strike a nerve with someone we’re close to because our words carry more weight with the people we’re tightly connected to.

The reality is, there will be times when we say things that hurt people, even if we didn’t mean to. Then there will be other times when people say something to us that really stings, even if it’s true.

For relationships to continue to work, we have to give and receive grace and be willing to forgive one another. Even if the relationship can’t go back to what it was, it’s still important that forgiveness takes place instead of holding onto bitterness and carrying grudges.

All levels of forgiveness are usually challenging for people, but as followers of Jesus, we have a deeper perspective and ability to show grace because we’ve been forgiven by our Lord and Savior.

If our perfect God is willing to show us grace for our egregious behavior, what makes us think we shouldn’t forgive someone for the hurt they’ve caused us?

We can’t expect people who haven’t experienced the forgiveness of God to quickly forgive, but those of us who understand what Jesus has done for us should willingly forgive others.

Colossians 3:12-13 (AMP) explains, “So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.

Mark 11:25 (NLT) adds, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

Today, as we praise God for His grace toward us, let’s choose forgiveness and enjoy the blessings of relationships. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

*For an incredible story of forgiveness, keep a lookout for our next podcast with Chris Singleton.*