Forgive Others For Your OWN Sake!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I do not forgive others because they should be or have a right to be. I forgive because I desire to have peace in my heart and mind and move forward with my life.

I can remember growing up with The Lord’s Prayer:

…Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…

I had this incorrect thought that God would only forgive me IF I forgave others. It’s a great childhood lesson: Don’t hold grudges! But for me at least, I always believed it wasn’t possible to get forgiveness until I had forgiven all. This is such a cock up! Whatever your concept or name of/for God is, she is not that terrible parent just waiting to slap us silly.

But the real reason for not holding grudges is simply that it doesn’t usually hurt the offender. Grudgery (my word) only hurts the one holding the grudge – me! You know how it goes. I feel hurt. I don’t let it go so it affects everything I do. I am sad, hurt, angry. When I have the same opportunity offered again I won’t go there because I got hurt the last time. I grow more bitter, not better. I grow old and alone.

MY TRUTH: To always (or at least as best as I possibly can) say,

Thank you for-giving me this experience. I have learned something about myself from it.

 

Forgive Others For Your OWN Sake!