It’s a word that can fill a heart with grace, spreading joy and warm feelings in its wake. Kindness comes from knowing it. It calms the storm of any turmoil, turns around trying times. It’s not a foreign word in any language. It’s as usual as a smile−not hard to say or spell.
Even children know the magic word forgiveness.
Why have so many grown-ups forgotten it?
−me strauss Letting me be
10 comments:
it is an amazing thing isn't it, something we need to do more of to ourselves and others.
beautiful post as always my friend, hope you had a wonderful day (hugs)
Forgiveness is so much more for ourselves than for the one forgiven. Holding a grudge keeps bitterness inside. It does little to the one against whom we hold that grudge, they may not even know and so they live on without the burden of our bitterness. But holding unforgiveness binds us forever to the one who has done us wrong and keeps us prisoner to that person and that wrong.
We can only be free if we forgive.
Hi mergrl,
It is amazing what a little forgiveness can do for the spirit of someone who is perpetually angry. It's a gift to know that I think. Thank you for coming by.
Liz )hugs)
Hi Ned,
You say that so well. I'm watching it happen. It makes a face grow mean and cold. She doesn't know it hurts herself and cannot hear that when I tell her. I think she thinks that not forgiving protects her. How sad. How wrong. How it hurts to watch.
Hey Liz,
It sound as though it bothers you more than it does her.
If you have forgiveness in your heart, then give her some time.
"Time heals all wounds".
Sometimes that what it takes for forgiveness to take hold.
Joe ;-)
perhaps it's fear of not knowing who she'll be if not an angry person. perhaps pride or just a case of not knowing what to do.
what do you reckon?
Hi Joe,
I'm just an innocent bystander. I'm not the one who's the focus of the anger. It just saddens me to watch people harm themselves.
Hi Sasha
That's a really good point. I think people often worry about who they'll be if they let go of the bad things in their lives. They've built their lives around them. I can understand that thinking. It must be scary.
Interesting question Liz. I'm not sure why people struggle so much to forgive. I wonder to what extent it starts at home, which is to say people struggle to forgive themselves and as such find it difficult to give to others what they can't give to themselves. I often find that I am harder on myself than anyone else and I have to catch myself and actively practice self-compassion for my failings. Not an easy thing to do. If you find an answer let me know.
Hi Tree,
I too am working hard on trying to forgive myself first. I've always found it easier to forgive others. Some folks can't forgive anyone. I think Sasha's point is a good one--maybe the grudge is all they have to hold on to. Sad.
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