Lately, I have been thinking a lot about forgiveness. I have learned a lot about forgiveness lately. Part of the learning has come from personal experience and part has come from the classes I have been taking. I am not a person that usually holds a grudge. I never really thought too much about forgiveness and it's impact. A few of the things that I have learned have really opened my eyes to it's power.
Did you know that you don't have to reconcile to forgive? Go figure. I always thought that to forgive meant you always put the relationship back the way it was before the offense happened, not so. Forgiveness comes when you don't have negative feelings toward that person anymore, but the real kicker is the step beyond. You not only have no negative feelings, but you actually want good things for that person. And bonus, you can want good things for that person and not associate with them anymore. Whew, I was really glad to learn that one.
The other really big thing that I have learned is the amazing power forgiveness has on the person doing the forgiving. When you forgive, there is an actual physical feeling of a weight being lifted off your shoulders. It feels so good not to carry that burden of anger, resentment, and grudge around anymore. It feels free and it feels peaceful. Who doesn't want that in their life?
All of it is a process and may take a long time to achieve, and that is o.k. But to those sitting on the fence, those that have held on to something for a long time and just need that extra incentive to leap into the arms of forgiveness, to those that want peace and are tired of carrying around that burden, to you I say, what are you waiting for?
