Hi,
My name is Reverend Karima and today I want to talk to you about forgiveness.
For many years I was a self-help junkie and I thought that forgiveness was the huge next big thing so I threw the word around like candy.
But what happened?
Nothing,
Because I truly had not forgiven anyone.
Nor had I forgiven myself for not forgiving anyone.
So that's why I want to have this little talk with you right now.
Forgiveness is the goal.
We should always strive to be forgiven and to forgive others.
But we need to understand that that takes time.
Yes,
Sometimes it's as easy as turning on the light,
But other times it's as hard as climbing Mount Everest.
If you want to forgive someone,
Ask yourself the following.
Do I really want to forgive them or do I have any resentment?
If you do have resentment,
Just be open about it to yourself.
Say,
I want to forgive but right now I feel like I want to not forgive them at all.
That's honesty and that helps you get to the next step.
The next step is a prayer.
Simple and easy.
I want to forgive,
Insert person's name,
Help me do so.
Amen.
Then step three.
Feel back in.
Do you feel that it is easier to forgive them now or not?
If yes,
That's great.
If not,
Then don't beat yourself up and continue to pray about it until it is easier to let go.
When you are ready to forgive,
You must ask yourself these questions.
Am I completely okay with forgiving?
For most people,
The answer will become yes sometime in their life.
But don't do what I did for many years.
Don't go around thinking you have forgiven people just to feel good and spiritual and then don't forgive them in your heart.
Take the time that it needs to forgive because false forgiveness is worse than not.
So with this in mind,
I want you again to just imagine the person you want to forgive.
I want you to see them as a baby before they ever hurt you.
And I want you to tell them,
I forgive your inner child.
Because forgiving a baby is easier than forgiving a grown-up human.
So start by forgiving their inner child and when you're ready to forgive their adult persona,
Just also say,
I release you.
And we are going to do that releasing together.
And I want to give you a huge disclaimer.
When we do this together right now,
I don't want you to go back in time.
I simply want you to just picture them in your mindset,
As a baby or as a very old person who can no longer hurt you.
Because I don't want you to activate any trauma.
So now let's get ready and just imagine that there is a golden thread between you and the other person.
And now let's say a prayer together.
Dear divine and angels,
I'm not ready to forgive.
Insert their name.
Cut the cord so I no longer have to deal with any of this.
Amen.
That's it.
You have now forgiven.
And I would say to you,
If you feel that it's hard to forgive,
Give yourself some time.
Forgiveness is not a marathon.
It's not a self-help fashion thing.
It's a very personal thing to you.
And I know if you have the intention of forgiving anyone,
You will be able to when the time is right.
Thank you for listening.
This practice is now at an end.
My name is Reverend Karima.
I love you and I am so proud of you right now.
