Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel
that has crushed it" --Mark Twain

"Forgiveness is the final form of love" --Reinhold Niebuhr

"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit
them" --Bruce Lee

Do you ever have those nights when your mind is chattering
and the tapes in your head are playing over and over and
you can’t sleep? Not everyone does, but most of us do. Even
though I believe I manage my emotions very well, every now
and then I have a night like that and I feel exhausted the next
day because I was not resting peacefully. I had unfinished
business running through my mind, literally.

Last night was one of those nights for me, and when I woke up
this morning I searched my heart for the answer to what has
been holding me back from my peace, and perfect rest. As I lay
in bed in the quiet and my deepest thoughts, the answer came
to me in the form of a feeling, an intuitive feeling, which is how
I tell the difference between my intuition and imagination. My
intuition always feels right, makes sense, and immediately
brings forth a need for a call to action.

I know within me there are people and situations I need to
forgive. Really forgive. And not only that, but bless them so I
can move on from the hurt or disappointment, and the most
damaging and peace-robbing emotion of all, anger.

I chose to put that forgiveness in the form of prayer, and truly
gave it to God, with all of the sincerity I have inside me. I said

it out loud, I named each individual and situation, each unmet
dream, each hurt, and forgave out loud, followed by a blessing
for each one; and felt it right down to my soul. As I did so, I
felt stress, tension, hurt feelings, and anger leave my being.
I then forgave myself, the most important person in my life,
for any and all wrongdoing I may have done in ignorance.

I am not perfect, but a work in progress. If others cannot
acknowledge that they are works in progress as well, they will
not be able to practice forgiving others, and themselves, with
sincerity. Forgiving is grace in action. It is for you. It is for
us. It is so we can let go of negative emotions that cause us bad
feelings that harm no one but ourselves.

If there is something or someone you need to forgive, get
quiet, go deep within, close your eyes, breathe deep, and
visualize that. Then one by one, forgive them, it, and yourself
out loud and let the hurt and anger go. I promise that if you
do this sincerely, your life will change in ways that even your
wonderful imagination couldn’t dream up.

You are loved,

Cat