AA *...Of All Persons We Had Harmed

When reciting The Lord's Prayer, we say "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." In this case, "as" means, "in the same manner." We are asking to be forgiven in the same manner that we forgive others. Our job is to fully forgive ALL of those as we have harmed, not picking and choosing only a select few. Here, AA's "Daily Reflections" (pg. 230) helps us to call on the spirit of forgiveness instead of inviting more resentment.

Transcript

Daily Reflections of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

From 12 Steps and 12 Traditions,

Page 77.

One of the key words in the eighth step is the word,

All.

I am not free to select a few names from the list and to disregard others.

It's a list of all persons I have harmed.

I can immediately see that this step entails forgiveness.

Because if I'm not willing to forgive someone,

There's little chance I will place his name on the list.

Before I placed the first name on my list,

I said a little prayer.

I forgive anyone and everyone who has ever harmed me at any time and under any circumstances.

It is well for me to contemplate a small,

But very significant,

Two-letter word every time the Lord's Prayer is said.

The word is,

As.

I ask,

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

In this case,

As means,

In the same manner.

I am asking to be forgiven in the same manner that I forgive others.

As I say this portion of the prayer,

If I'm harboring hatred or resentment,

I am inviting more resentment,

When I should be calling on the spirit of forgiveness.