We've all been hurt by someone else.
It's an unavoidable condition of living in society,
Living with people who have freedom to choose their actions.
But the pain of the offense is often magnified by our unwillingness to let it go,
Our unwillingness to forgive.
Sometimes we hold on to our pain because we think we deserve it or that we aren't worthy of living without it.
Sometimes we're afraid of letting go because it means the offender won't suffer and we want them to suffer for what they've done.
But who is really suffering?
It's been said that holding a grudge is like swallowing poison and waiting for someone else to die.
But who is really dying?
Sometimes we tell ourselves that we'll forgive after there is justice or after there's an apology or after there's healing.
When our forgiveness is always based on an after,
It will always come too late.
Sometimes we see forgiving someone as a sign of weakness,
A sign that we weren't able to hold that person accountable and because we lacked the power,
They'll now get away with the hurt they caused.
But ask anyone who has ever forgiven.
There is nothing easy or weak about it.
Giving someone takes huge amounts of strength,
Often more than we have ourselves.
Draw strength from the universe,
From the source of goodness and let it fill the hole left by pain.
Let it create in you a feeling of wholeness.
Let it enlarge your soul until it can be bigger than the offense.
When we let go,
When we rid ourselves of the poisonous pain,
We regain control of our lives,
Of our future and we refuse to give the offender any more influence on our happiness,
Any more impact on our peace.
Forgiveness is not about giving up or giving in.
It's about giving away your burden and taking back your life and your power.
I wish this for all of us.
Be well my friends.
You are loved.
