FORGIVENESS!

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"Forgive and forget...It's not in the bible."
"Don't be blindsided."

I'm enjoying a series of Lenten talks given by a priest at my parish
church. They're right on target and right down my alley.

He pointed out-that forgiveness may well be one of the most misunderstood concepts and one of the least embraced virtues.

Forgiving someone is really not about the other person...It's about releasing the bondage of pain that has a hold on us, because of someone else's actions. It is not about forgetting what happened...or denying someone hurt us...It is not about accepting the wrongdoing and it is certainly not a weakened state of submission...Forgiveness is a simply powerful action of letting go and moving on to a higher level of personal healing.

When we let go of the anger and the resentment, the hurt and the betrayal...We give ourselves a gift, by allow the healing power of God to inspire a renewal of the heart and an empowering release from our old ways of thinking and reacting.

It also causes us to face our own weaknesses and woundedness-which often makes us vulnerable in the first place.

Sure-it would be wonderful if we could not only get an authentic apology and active reparation...But that doesn't always come...Because let's face it...Most of us, at one time or another, have had trouble facing our follies, much less asking for another person's forgiveness.

However, if you want to feel free...If you want to find true peace...and if you want to fill your emptiness with soul inspiring relief...Forgive someone the grudge you've been hanging on to...And while your at it...Ask someone to forgive you for something hurtful that you've done to them...The remarkable results will be life altering!

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