在大學時期，我修讀了一學期莎士比亞的文學創作。這門課程需要一本厚重的教科書，裡面完整地收錄了莎士比亞所有的作品。這本書有好幾公斤重，而每次我都得背上好幾個小時。背著這樣的重擔走來走去，令我腰酸背痛，甚至把我書包上的金屬扣給弄斷了！

有些事物太過沉重，令人不堪負荷。例如，過往的傷害帶來的情感包袱，其中的痛苦和仇恨將我們壓垮。但上帝要我們藉由原諒別人得釋放，並在可能的情況下，與對方和好（歌羅西書3章13節）。傷害越深，就需要越長的時間才能釋懷。但不要緊，就像雅各奪取了以掃的長子名分和祝福（創世記27章36節），然而在多年之後，以掃才終於原諒了他。

當兄弟倆相聚時，以掃寬容地原諒了弟弟，甚至「將他抱住」（33章4節）。二人抱頭痛哭，一切盡在不言中。以掃原本想殺害雅各（27章41節），隨著時光流逝，以掃平息怒火。這些年來，雅各也有機會反省對哥哥造成多大的傷害。在整個相聚的過程中，雅各顯得謙卑又恭敬（33章8-11節）。

最後，兄弟倆都放下仇恨、不計較得失（9、15節）。只要能原諒別人，或是得到別人的原諒，就可以卸下過去沉重的包袱得著釋放。

In college, I studied William Shakespeare’s writing for a semester. The class required a giant textbook containing everything Shakespeare had ever written. The book weighed several pounds, and I had to carry it for hours at a time. Lugging that weight around caused my back to hurt, and it eventually broke a metal fastener on my bookbag!

Some things are just too heavy for us to carry. Emotional baggage from past hurt, for example, can weigh us down with bitterness and hatred. But God wants us to have freedom through forgiving people and, when possible, reconciling with them (Colossians 3:13). The deeper the pain, the longer this may take. That’s okay. It took many years for Esau to forgive Jacob for stealing his birthright and blessing (Genesis 27:36).

When the two finally reunited, Esau graciously forgave his brother and even “embraced him” (33:4). Not a word was exchanged before they both burst into tears. Over time, Esau had let go of the anger that made him consider murder (27:41). And all those years gave Jacob the chance to see the magnitude of how he’d harmed his brother. He was humble and respectful throughout the reunion (33:8-11).

In the end, both brothers came to the place where neither required anything from the other (vv. 9, 15). It was enough to forgive and be forgiven and walk away free from the heavy baggage of the past.