"Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future."—Lewis B. Smedes— American Author
BITTERNESS is a word with two meanings. When speaking of food it means sharpness of taste, or lack of sweetness. Figuratively, it is anger and disappointment or indignation at being treated unfairly; resentment. When something we eat is bitter, we can tell in an instant. Whether the pungency is part of the original taste of the item, or something rancid smells and tastes bad because it's old and stale—we respond as soon as we put it in our mouths.
The emotion of bitterness can take more time. A hurt, injury, or loss can prompt feelings of anger, disappointment, confusion, frustration, or grief. Multiple traumas can be even more injurious. As we allow these feelings to linger for days, months, years, or even decades...the Bible says they can grow caustic roots. Some of us are attempting to pull up a forest of bitter roots. Hebrews makes this admonition:
"Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many." Hebrews 12:14-15, NLT
Sometimes no personal injury has caused our bitterness. Life is just "lifing" as they say these days. This was the case with Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi. A famine had swept through Judah causing her family to move to Moab. Then her husband Elimilech died. Naomi went on with her life, and her sons married two women from Moab. Ten years later, they died too. Naomi was inconsolable and in despair. She believed God had dealt her a bad hand. One of her daughters-in-law, Orpah, stayed in Moab, while the other, Ruth, clove to Naomi and said she would stay by her side. When they returned to Bethlehem, the people were excited to see Naomi (which means pleasant), but she told them:
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara (meaning bitter), for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” (Ruth 1:20-21)
What happens when your bitterness is not against people...it's against God? Maybe you've had questions for the LORD: Why did this natural disaster occur? Why this "premature" death of my loved one? Why are we always moving from place to place? Why must I feel all of this hurt, pain, and loss? I love that Scripture is real about our humanity and the emotions we feel in trying times. God not only allowed Ruth to be with Naomi for comfort, but He had a plan to restore her after the devastation.
It seemed Naomi had lost everything—her husband, her sons, and the opportunity for their lineage; their family name to remain in the earth. Despite her pain, God still used Naomi and her bitter situation. He gave her wisdom to advise loyal Ruth to marry a near relative to maintain the family legacy. The Kinsman Redeemer was named Boaz. Ruth and Boaz conceived a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who was king David's father. God turned things around so much that Naomi and Ruth would be in the matriarchal line of Jesus. He made the bitter sweet again! | 
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